Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787) is a cryptic pantropical species of Lepidoptera that are comprised of two unique strains that inhabit the American continents (New World strain) and regions spanning from Africa through to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia (Old World strain). In this study, we de novo assembled the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the New World legume pod borer, M. vitrata, from shotgun sequence data generated on an Illumina HiSeq 2000. Phylogenomic comparisons were made with other previously published mitochondrial genome sequences from crambid moths, including the Old World strain of M. vitrata. The 15,385 bp M. vitrata (New World) sequence has an 80.7% A+T content and encodes the 13 protein-coding, 2 ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNA genes in the typical orientation and arrangement of lepidopteran mitochondrial DNAs. Mitochondrial genome-wide comparison between the New and Old World strains of M. vitrata detected 476 polymorphic sites (4.23% nucleotide divergence) with an excess of synonymous substitution as a result of purifying selection. Furthermore, this level of sequence variation suggests that these strains diverged from ~1.83 to 2.12 million years ago, assuming a linear rate of short-term substitution. The de novo assemblies of mitochondrial genomes from next-generation sequencing (NGS) reads provide readily available data for similar comparative studies.

Apis mellifera jemenitica, the only indigenous honey bee race of Saudi Arabia, is well adapted to the harsh local environmental conditions. A large-scale field survey was conducted to screen major Saudi Arabian beekeeping locations for infection by Paenibacillus larvae. Paenibacillus larvae is one of the major bacterial pathogens of honey bee broods and is the causative agent of American foulbrood disease. Larvae from samples suspected of infection were collected from different apiaries and homogenized in phosphate-buffered saline. Bacteria were isolated on MYPGP agar medium. Two bacterial isolates, ksuPL3 and ksuPL5 (16S rRNA GenBank accession numbers, KR780760 and KR780761, respectively), were subjected to molecular identification using P. larvae-specific primers. A BLAST sequence analysis revealed that the two isolates were P. larvae with more than 98% sequence identity. This detection of P. larvae in the indigenous honey bee is the first recorded incidence of this pathogen in Saudi Arabia. This study emphasizes the need for the relevant authorities to take immediate steps towards treating and limiting the spread of this disease throughout the country.

Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), commonly known as banana corm weevil, is an important economic pest in Asia that can cause severe yield loss depending upon the stage at which infestation occurs. In spite of its economic importance, little is known about the population structure of this pest in India. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used to characterize the population genetic structure of C. sordidus collected from five hot spot locations in India. Nineteen RAPD primers and five selective AFLP primer combinations generated 147 and 304 amplification products, respectively. UPGMA dendrograms generated with both marker systems failed to reveal populations clustered based on geographic distance, which was confirmed by the Mantel test, which did not show a strong correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance. Values of indices of genetic identity showed that the populations were closely related. Though the gene flow estimate (Nm) between the populations was 0.469, suggesting restricted gene flow, the populations are not genetically distinct. These observations suggest that the range expansion of this banana pest in India has taken place through transport of infested corms and plant material, resulting in genetically close populations that are geographically distinct. These results provide important information on the population structure of this pest in India, which will aid in designing suitable strategies for its control and management, especially with respect to insecticide resistance.

Cotesia vestalis was introduced into Kenya from South Africa in March 2003 for biological control of Plutella xylostella with initial release in 2004. To confirm establishment, the rate of spread beyond the release sites and parasitism rates by C. vestalis were assessed between October 2011 and April 2012 in eastern and southeastern Kenya (Kitui, Mwingi/Yatta and Loitokitok areas). Monthly observations on kale infestation by diamondback moth, damage scores, parasitism and parasitoid guild were undertaken on 20 randomly selected plants in farmer-managed kale farms. Sampled larval and pupal stages were placed in containers and taken to the laboratory for parasitoid emergence. The infestation levels ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 DBM per plant, while damage scores ranged from 1.2 to 1.6, which correlated with the infestation levels. Cotesia vestalis was not only the most abundant parasitoid, but it had also spread to new areas from the release sites. In December, the three sites recorded an average of 50% from C. vestalis. Excluding the exotic parasitoids C. vestalis and D. semiclausum, indigenous parasitoids accounted for less than 5% total parasitism. The parasitoid guild of the diamondback moth varied between months and study sites with January recording the highest species diversity and evenness of 1.15 and 0.63, 1.28 and 0.80, 1.08 and 0.47 in Loitokitok, Kitui and Mwingi/Matuu, respectively. Therefore, C. vestalis had an impact on the management of the DBM with parasitism rate of 35% to 88% and had spread beyond the release sites.

The anthocorid bug Orius albidipennis Reuter is a generalist predator that feeds on the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius and the strawberry spider mite Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov & Nikolski in greenhouse crops. There are no previous studies on the potential efficacy of the predatory bug against these pests on greenhouse crops. We report on the efficacy and the prey preference of the predator to control these pests on different host plants under laboratory conditions. In a laboratory experiment, we estimated the predation rates of O. albidipennis at different densities of each prey after 24 h on cucumber and sweet pepper leaves. Predation rates of the predatory bug to T. turkestani and B. tabaci were significantly higher on sweet pepper leaf than on cucumber leaf. We studied the effect of plant species on prey preference and switching of O. albidipennis to B. tabaci and T. turkestani using Manly's α index values and Murdoch's no-switch line, respectively. Our results show that O. albidipennis prefers T. turkestani to B. tabaci on both host plants but its preference for T. turkestani on sweet pepper is significantly greater than on cucumber. Moreover, on sweet pepper, preference values are completely fitted by Murdoch's no-switch line. The findings suggest that morphological defence traits of plants, such as hairy leaves of cucumber, may effectively change prey preference and reduce predation success of O. albidipennis.

Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is a serious pest of Coffea canephora and Theobroma cacao in Uganda and also attacks several common shade tree species often associated with these crops. Seedlings of 10 common hosts of X. compactus were screened for preferential infestation by X. compactus, with a view to analysing the potential role of the shade trees in escalating incidence and damage by the pest. The experiment was conducted for 8 weeks in a garden of mature C. canephora infested by X. compactus that served as a natural source of infestation for the seedlings. The seedlings that became infested by X. compactus were counted weekly and the counts subjected to generalized linear modelling. Results show marked host preference by X. compactus, with T. cacao and C. canephora being the most preferred, while Eucalyptus sp. and Albizia chinensis being the least preferred. Four simulated scenarios of incidence and damage by X. compactus on a preferred crop such as C. canephora are discussed. It is suggested that it is most unlikely for unpreferred alternate host shade tree species to markedly increase populations of X. compactus on shaded preferred host plants. However, these simulations, which are based on results from potted seedlings, need to be validated in a real field situation, taking into account other ecological parameters that are likely to influence pest populations.

Natural habitat degradation often involves the reduction or disappearance of bee species. In Africa, stingless bees are hunted for honey, which is used as food, for medicinal purposes, and for traditional rituals. Severe habitat degradation due to human settlement is hypothesized to have a negative impact on the species diversity of the African stingless bee species. In this paper, we assess the impact of habitat degradation on the diversity of five stingless bee species across different habitats in the tropical rainforest of Kenya (indigenous forest, mixed indigenous forest) and its neighbouring landscape (grassland, village) in western Kenya. The species fauna, nest occurrence, and species diversity of the stingless bee species varied across the different habitats. The number of nesting habitats of the meliponine species varied between habitats in the tropical rainforest. Meliponula ferruginea (reddish brown) nested in five habitats, while Meliponula bocandei and Meliponula ferruginea (black) nested only in two habitat types. The species richness decreased within the different types of habitats and the indigenous and mixed indigenous forest contained more species than other habitats. The fauna composition in both homesteads was exclusively similar, while the indigenous and mixed indigenous forests were mostly similar. Similarity in habitat preferences for nesting was revealed between M. bocandei vs Plebeina hildebrandti and M. ferruginea (reddish brown) vs Hypotrigona gribodoi. The natural native indigenous forest had the most diverse community compared to the degraded habitats. There are taxon-specific responses to habitat change; and in our study, there is clear value in conserving the native indigenous forest.

Euwallacea spp. (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) are polyphagous globally distributed invasive ambrosia beetles. One of the species was recently detected attacking Ricinus communis growing in Coffea canephora gardens in Uganda. This study was undertaken to: (a) determine the distribution, incidence, and relative abundance of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis in Uganda; (b) determine the influence of the presence of C. canephora on the incidence and abundance of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis; and (c) identify ambrosia fungus of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis. Five C. canephora farms with R. communis and five others with R. communis but without C. canephora were sampled in each of the six districts surveyed. Incidence of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis was measured, by inspecting the host trees in each farm for the presence or absence of the pest. Abundance of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis was estimated, by counting holes of Euwallacea sp. at the lower 1.7 m of R. communis stems. A fungus was isolated from galleries of Euwallacea sp. on R. communis and identified. Results show that Euwallacea sp. was present on R. communis in all districts surveyed, with 30–70% of the farms infested in each district and 5–28 holes of Euwallacea sp. found on each sampled stem of R. communis. Coffea canephora appeared to facilitate the infestation of R. communis by Euwallacea sp., although it did not seem to influence the multiplication of the insect inside the host. Cunninghamella echinulata appeared to be the ambrosia fungus associated with Euwallacea sp. Therefore, Euwallacea sp. is a threat to many economically important plants in Uganda that are known to be hosts of this pest.

The population density of the diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), the species diversity of its predators, parasitism on eggs, larvae and pupae, and associated yield of canola were evaluated in experimental plots where spring canola was grown either as a monoculture or strip-intercropped with annual alfalfa in the ratio of 3C:3A, 6C:3A and 9C:3A over a 2-year period. The egg density was significantly higher in monoculture than in intercrops. The highest and lowest densities of larvae and pupae of DBM were recorded in monoculture (2.9–3.2 larvae per plant and 1.14–1.20 pupae per plant) and intercrop 3C:3A (0.7–0.6 larvae per plant and 0.34–0.29 pupae per plant), respectively. Shannon diversity index (H') for species composition of the predators of DBM immature stages was lower in monoculture than in intercrops, and was similar amongst the three intercrops. Moreover, the percent parasitism for eggs, larvae and pupae was higher in intercrops than in monoculture. The dry seed weight loss was higher in monocrop (37.6–40.1%) compared to 3C:3A (7.9–8.6%), 6C:3A (19.5–21.4%) and 9C:3A (21.6–25.4%). Our results indicate that intercropping canola with annual alfalfa, especially in the ratio 3C:3A, can increase the species diversity, parasitism rates of DBM immature stages, and enhance the yield of canola. The implications of these findings, in relation to integrated pest management (IPM) in canola cropping systems, are discussed.