The purpose of this study was to investigate nutritional and phytochemical composition of Henicus whellani Chopard, a seasonally occurring ground-dwelling cricket consumed in south-eastern Zimbabwe. Insects were sampled from four quadrants (approximately 100 m2) in one representative site (approximately 3000 m2) in Bikita District, and were hand-picked or dug out from burrows in a manner similar to traditional insect-harvesting practices. Proximate composition using whole-dried insects and bioactive components using dried pulverized material were analysed using standard procedures. The proportional nutrient composition was 53.6% crude protein, 4.3% fat, 13.4% ash, 10.6% crude fibre, 4.0% carbohydrate and 268.3 kcal/100 g energy. Phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, oxalates, saponins and flavonoids were present in the extracts of insects. The quantities of saponins (53.3 mg/g) and alkaloids (52.3 mg/g) were higher than those of other phytochemicals, with the quantity of tannins (0.168 mg/g) being the lowest. Radical-scavenging capacity determined using di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (or 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl) and methanol extracts was 42%, which is lower than those of the standards. This study shows that H. whellani provides potential nutritional benefits in terms of protein, fibre and flavonoid contents. The relatively high ash content compared with that from other edible insects indicates a rich source of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. However, the presence of saponins, oxalates and tannins could be a limitation and requires further studies. There is a need to evaluate the bioaccessibility of the nutrients and the safety of bioactive compounds in relation to human consumption.

The tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) industry is the backbone of the agroeconomy of the North Bengal region located at the foothills of the Himalayas in North-East (NE) India. This region accounts for about 25% of the total tea production in India. The tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse, is one of the most devastating sucking pests of tea in this region. Various kinds of synthetic insecticides are continuously sprayed to control this bug. The lynx spider Oxyopes javanus Thorell has been found to remain associated with tea plants and feed on H. theivora. The present study investigated the predation potential and efficacy of the O. javanus spider against one of its most common prey species, H. theivora. In the laboratory, with an increase in H. theivora density, the predation rate of both male and female O. javanus increased. Per capita predation rates exhibited by male and female O. javanus per day against adult H. theivora were 3.67 ± 1.52 and 11.67 ± 1.53 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively. At a reasonably small prey density, the prey consumption rate was highest, reaching up to 100%, indicating that the spider predator has the potential to eliminate smaller populations of the pest. The predation effectiveness calculated using Holling's disc equation was 6.08 and 356.58 for male and female O. javanus, respectively. The prey handling time was 0.138 day for male O. javanus and 0.012 day for female O. javanus. Female O. javanus exhibited about fivefold higher searching efficacy than male O. javanus. It appears that the conservation or augmentation of O. javanus in the tea ecosystem can provide effective biological management of the major tea pest, H. theivora, in sub-Himalayan foothills and plains of NE India.

The present study was undertaken to determine the nutritional value of the fifth instar larva of Bombyx mori, locally referred to as ‘Niang ryndai’, which is a popular edible silkworm among the local inhabitants of East and West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi district. Larvae were collected from the Iewduh market of Shillong in the months of October and November as these larvae are available during these months. The composition of lipids, amino acids and the fat-soluble vitamins A and E in the frozen and oven-dried samples of B. mori was estimated and compared with that of conventional food items. The detection of the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the larva indicates its potential to support a healthy cardiovascular function. Because of their use for the production of silk yarn, silkworms have economic potential for the people of the State and north-eastern region of India. Increased appreciation of this insect as an alternative and cheap source of nutrition would contribute to the socio-economic development of the indigenous people.

In the present study, the synergistic effects of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv. Vuill.) (isolate Bb11) and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Berliner) with neem oil were evaluated in three agroecological zones in Bénin. Four bioinsecticide treatments (neem oil, neem oil and B. bassiana used separately for different target pests, neem oil mixed with B. bassiana and neem oil mixed with B. thuringiensis) were compared with a calendar-based treatment using synthetic insecticides and a control without insecticides. The bioinsecticide treatments were less effective than the calendar-based treatment at controlling cotton pests. There was no difference in yields and the number of damaged bolls in plots under treatments with the four bioinsecticide formulations, suggesting an absence of synergy between neem oil and B. bassiana and neem oil and B. thuringiensis. The numbers of natural enemies in all the bioinsecticide treatment plots and the control plots were similar and higher than those in the calendar-based treatment plots. The highest yield and profitability were obtained with the calendar-based treatment. Screening the compatibility of plant-based products and biopesticides through bioassays is essential for a successful application of their combinations in any integrated pest management strategy.

Lepidopteran stemborers, mainly the African stemborer Busseola fusca Fuller and spotted stemborer Chilopartellus Swinhoe, are among the economically important pests of sorghum in Kenya. Identification of sources of resistance is valuable for the development of an integrated pest management strategy to minimize losses. This study evaluated 27 genotypes with artificial infestations (mostly for tolerance) in two different agroecological zones. Data on damage from leaf feeding, dead heart, exit holes, and stem tunnelling; plant height; days to 50% flowering; total grain yield; and hundred-grain mass were collected. Significant differences (P< 0.001) were observed in all the traits evaluated, except leaf damage, under infestation by C. partellus. Classification into different categories of resistance revealed genetic variation. Genotypes resistant/moderately resistant to both pests were as follows: ICSA 464>ICSB 464>ICSB 467>ICSA 472>ICSB 472>ICSA 473>ICSA 474>IESV 91131 DL>Macia. The relative contributions of the damage parameters to grain yield loss were partitioned into direct and indirect relationships by path coefficient analysis with grain yield as the resultant variable. The results revealed that damage from exit holes, dead heart, leaf feeding and stem tunnelling had a negative indirect effect on grain yield. The identified genotypes can be used to enhance resistance to both pests in susceptible cultivars that farmers prefer.

The effectiveness of maize (Zea mays L.) planted at different times in a maize–cucumber intercrop to reduce the density of cucumber insect pests was investigated in 2007 and 2008. The cucumber varieties Marketmore and Hybrid F1 were established from seed as a monocrop or intercropped with maize, and with maize established 2 weeks before cucumber (2WBC), the same day with cucumber (SDC) or 2 weeks after cucumber (2WAC). Irrespective of the cucumber variety, there was a significant reduction (over 50%) in the density of insect pests in the cucumber–maize intercrop compared with cucumber alone. Similarly, in both years, fruit damage was significantly lower (about 50%) in the intercropped cucumber, particularly at 2WBC and SDC, compared with cucumber alone. Cucumber fruit yield was significantly higher at SDC but significantly lower at 2WBC relative to the other times. In both years, a relatively higher yield for cucumber was obtained at SDC than at 2WBC and 2WAC. Therefore, a significant control of cucumber insect pests and a higher cucumber yield were obtained when cucumber and maize were planted on the same day.

Increasing anthropogenic disturbance in tropical rainforests is a major challenge to biodiversity conservation. The responses of herbivorous insect communities to habitat changes are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the resilience of galling insect communities associated with Neoboutonia macrocalyx (Euphorbiaceae) trees to logging in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Resilience was measured by comparing the species density, abundance and community structure of gallers in nine differently aged successional forests with those in adjacent primary forests. Insect galls were sampled from the canopy of 10 randomly selected trees in each successional stage, five times in a 10-month period. A total of 7219 individuals representing five galler species were recorded. No significant differences were found in the species density and overall density of gallers between the regenerating and primary forests. The mean tree height was positively correlated with the overall density of gallers. The community structure of gallers differed significantly among the successional stages, but exhibited no clear directional recovery trend. In addition, remarkable seasonal variations were observed in galler communities, with peak abundance being found in the wettest months. The results of the preset study indicate that specialist galling insects whose hosts are pioneer trees can recolonize successional sites rapidly and are resilient to the effects of selective and clear-cut logging in case primary or secondary forests with an established population of Neoboutonia host trees (source populations) are close by. Thus, recovering tropical forests can provide important habitats for galling insect biodiversity, highlighting the need to include them in management and conservation priority plans.

Focal species are valuable tools for evaluating management practices for biodiversity conservation. Butterfly gardening through the creation of appropriate habitats can be a primary conservation tool to increase species abundance and richness and gene flow among the populations in fragmented landscapes. In this context, the role of butterfly gardens in the conservation of butterfly populations and the seasonal population trends of swallowtail butterflies (family Papilionidae) sighted in the Butterfly Safari Park at Thenmala were studied. A total of 4760 sightings of 15 species of swallowtails belonging to five genera were recorded, of which six were endemic species, three species had protected status and two were rare species. It is worth noting that of the 19 species of the papilionids recorded in Kerala, as many as 15 species were recorded in Thenmala. Of the various species recorded, Troides minos, Pachliopta pandiyana, Pachliopta aristolochiae, Graphium agamemnon, Graphium sarpedon, Papilio polytes, Papilio clytia, Papilio demoleus and Papilio polymnestor comprised the resident populations, while species such as Atrophaneura hector, Papilio helenus, Papilio dravidarum, Papilio paris, Papilio liomedon and Graphium nomius were found only during certain seasons. The overall butterfly abundance was high from August to November. The butterfly populations exhibited a gradual decline in numbers from December onwards with the onset of dry seasons. The abundance of butterfly populations was low during March–April. The abundance of T. minos, P. pandiyana, P. polymnestor, P. paris, P. dravidarum, P. helenus, P. polytes and P. liomedon showed a significant negative correlation with monthly average temperature and a significant positive correlation with humidity.