Invasive alien species (IAS) rank among the most significant drivers of species extinction and ecosystem degradation resulting in significant impacts on socio-economic development. The recent exponential spread of IAS in most of Africa is attributed to poor border biosecurity due to porous borders...

A free-living nematode was isolated from soils of coastal areas of Northern Sri Lanka using an insect-baiting technique. The morphometrics and the potential of the nematode to control the insect pest, red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) and white grubs (Phyllophaga ephilida) were evaluated. The...

Plant parasitic nematode (PPN) control has historically relied on the use of synthetic chemical nematicides, however many are toxic to both human health and the environment. The withdrawal of the more harmful nematicides coupled with increases in soil temperatures and increased occurrence of pests...

The fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) has recently spread to many countries in Africa, the Near East, Asia and the Pacific. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), more than 300 million people depend on FAW's preferred host plant, maize, as a staple crop. Hence, the spread of FAW in SSA has the...

Background: Although Kenya has a relatively high number of registered biopesticide products, little is known about biopesticide use by smallholders. This paper documents farmers' current use and perception of chemical pesticides and biopesticides, their willingness to pay for biopesticides, and the ...

BACKGROUND: Bioassays evaluating entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) isolates for effective microbial control of whitefly are a fundamental part of the screening process for bioprotectants, but development of repeatable, robust bioassays is not straightforward. Currently, there is no readily available...

In March 2017, during field inspections in Rwanda, a number of maize (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) plants were found to be infested with armyworm larvae. Based on morphological characteristics the larvae were tentatively identified in situ as fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda....

The uptake of augmentative biological control agents (BCAs) is still limited, particularly in many low- to lower-middle-income countries. This study focuses on factors that affect the uptake of BCAs for arthropod pests by national extension partners (NEPs) in Plantwise - an agricultural development ...

The fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) originates from the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Americas. Recently it was reported for the first time in Africa and has since spread rapidly across more than 30 countries in the continent. Chemical pesticides are being promoted and used...

In 2012, vegetable farmers in the Philippine highlands (Buguias and Benguet provinces) first observed unusual yellowing symptoms in Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) planted in their fields. The symptoms were pronounced vein clearing, vein yellowing and a bright yellow mosaic. Similar symptoms...