—Infochemicals play an important role in the biology of many insect species. An understanding of their role in plant-herbivore-carnivore interactions can be used in the development of tools for the enhancement of environmentally benign alternatives to synthetic pesticides. This review discusses how chemical information mediates ecological interactions between organisms and the role of infochemicals in integrated pest management. Infochemicals can be used in pest monitoring and in pest control, through mating disruption, mass trapping and to aggregate herbivores at delivery sites for biological control agents. Particular emphasis is placed on the potential of using pheromones and kairomones in the management of the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a pest in plantations of East African highland banana and plantain in most banana-growing regions of the world. Cosmopolites sordidus produces an aggregation pheromone that attracts both males and females. This pheromone has been identified and synthesised and is being recommended as an effective agent in the trapping and control of the weevil. The synergism between banana plant extracts (kairomones) and the synthetic pheromone in attracting C. sordidus should be better exploited. Future research areas that can provide information for the development of an infochemical-based trapping system for the management of C. sordidus are discussed.

—Native to the Caribbean islands and Central America, the spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), has spread to North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and several Pacific islands. A total of 62 natural enemies, including 8 parasitoids, 53 predators and one fungal pathogen, are known to attack the whitefly in different countries. Of the parasitoids, the accidentally or deliberately introduced aphelinids Encarsia sp., Encarsia (?) haitiensis Dozier and E. guadeloupae Viggiani provide control of A. dispersus in many countries. The exotic coccinellid predator Nephaspis oculata Wingo also plays an important role in reducing the whitefly's populations. However, the A. dispersus remains a pest in some countries in the absence of parasitoids. This article reviews current information on biological control of A. dispersus in different countries/states, in particular India, the Pacific islands, Hawaii and countries in West Africa.

—The community structure and diel activity patterns of peridomestic Stomoxyinae at two locations in Nairobi and its outskirts (Chiromo and Ruiru) were studied using Nzi traps baited with octenol. Six species of Stomoxys (S. calcitrans, S. niger niger, S. n. bilineatus, S. inomatus, S. taeniatus, S. varipes) and three other Stomoxyinae genera (Haematobosca, Stygeromyia, Parastomoxys) were caught. At Chiromo, species diversity (H') varied from 0.29 to 0.65 and evenness from 0.59 to 0.83, whereas at Ruiru, diversity varied from 0.0 to 0.38 and evenness from 0.0 to 0.46. Diurnal activity both S. calcitrans and S. n. niger was bimodal, with a small peak of activity in the morning (0800–1100 hrs) and a major peak in the evening (1700–1800 hrs). Both species showed a midday depression in activity. The activity of S. inomatus rose steadily throughout the day with only a slight midday depression. These results are discussed with respect to results of similar studies in a natural, undisturbed habitat.

—The efficacy of triflumuron was tested on three types of textiles (cotton, polyester and polypropylene) of two colours (blue and black) for application in self-sterilisation of Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank, 1949 (Diptera: Glossinidae). Three concentrations of triflumuron diluted with water to 3, 6 and 12 % were used to impregnate each type of cloth and two groups of tsetse flies were contaminated—females aged 20 days were directly contaminated by exposure to impregnated cloth; and younger females (3-days-old) were contaminated during the mating by males treated like old females. The blue and black-coloured cloths had no significant differences in terms of reproductive parameters (P<0.05). On the other hand the type of fabric and the concentration of triflumuron had significant effects on the efficacy of the product. Cotton and polypropylene, impregnated with triflumuron diluted to 6 and 12% respectively sterilised the old females on 5 consecutive reproductive cycles from normal pupa production. The two concentrations also sterilised the younger females on 3 consecutive reproductive cycles from pupal hatching. Polyester impregnated with the same concentrations sterilised the old females during the 3 first reproductive cycles after treatment and young females on 2 reproductive cycles.

—The sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of gut supernate antigen (GS Ag) derived from partly fed Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) adult females revealed 26 discrete potypeptide bands of molecular weight ranging from 25–208 kDa. Out of these, seven bandswere of major polypeptides with molecular weights of between 25.2 and 185.8 kDa. On immunoblotting with antisera raised in rabbits against gut supernate (crude extract), eight immunogenic polypeptides with molecular weights of between 51.7 and 185.8 were identified. The implications of these findings for the potential development of anti-tick vaccine are discussed.

—Midgut trypsin and lectin levels were determined in three tsetse species, namely Glossina morsitans morsitans, G. longipennis and G. fuscipes fuscipes. In addition, the abilities of midgut homogenates prepared from these flies to transform bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei brucei and T. congolense were compared in vitro. In all the species examined, trypsin levels did not differ significantly up to 24 h post-bloodmeal. There were similar rates of transformation of the bloodstream-form trypanosomes into procyclic (midgut) forms in vivo, so that all species had similar levels of infection in the midgut. However, trypsin levels continued to increase beyond 24 h, reaching a peak between 48 and 72 h. The peak was lowest in G. m. morsitans. The midgut homogenates in this species also had the lowest levels of lectin. The species had the highest levels of mature T. congolense and T. brucei infections. We propose that the lower levels of peak midgut tryspin and lectin in G. m. morsitans is important in the establishment of trypanosome infections in this species of tsetse.

—Bioassays were conducted with Bacillus sphaericus (Neide) 1593M (Bsph) and a neem based biopesticide formulation, Neemtox® (0.03% azadirachtin), independently and in different combinations, to evaluate any synergistic effects on Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae susceptible to Bsph. The results indicated that the two biopesticides have no synergistic interaction on the larvae. These results are discussed in light of earlier experiments with resistant C. quinquefasciatus, in which Bspfc-Neemtox synergism was seen.

—A revision of the Neotropical species of the Forcipomyia squamitibia group, revealed three new species, F. (F.) catarinensis from southern Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica, F. (F.) quechua from northwestern Argentina and F. (F.) rioplatensis from northeastern Argentina and northwestern Uruguay, which are described and illustrated. Forcipomyia (F.) squamitibia Lutz is redescribed from the original type material, a lectotype is designated, and F. (F.) soriai Wirth is recognised as a junior synonym. The remaining known species of this group are diagnosed, and keys to males and females are provided for the identification of the nine recognised species.

Plumbagin, a napthoquinone from the plant Plumbago zeylanica, delayed pupation when topically applied to newly moulted final instars of the leaf eating caterpillar Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae). Pupae from treated larvae emerged into non-viable adults and had abnormalities such as deformed wings and shrunken abdomens; they also died much before the control insects. The results suggest that plumbagin interferes with the process of development and ecdysis of the insect.