Parasitoid complex of fall armyworm, spodoptera frugiperda, in Ghana and Benin

Open Access Journal; Published online: 21 Jan 2020The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a moth originating from the American continent, has recently invaded most African countries, where it is seriously threatening food security as a pest of cereals. The current management methods rely heavily on the use of synthetic insecticides but there is a need for more sustainable control methods, including biological control. Surveys were conducted in two West African countries, Ghana and Benin, to determine the native parasitoid complex and assess parasitism rates of S. frugiperda. Samples of S. frugiperda eggs and larvae were collected in maize fields located in 56 and 90 localities of Ghana and Benin, respectively, from July 2018 to July 2019. Ten species were found parasitizing the pest, including two egg parasitoids, one egg–larval, five larval and two larval–pupal parasitoids. The two most abundant parasitoids in both countries were two Braconidae: the egg‐larval parasitoid Chelonus bifoveolatus and the larval parasitoid Coccygidum luteum. Parasitism rates were determined in three Ghanaian regions and averages varied from 0% to 75% between sites and from 5% to 38% between regions. These data provide an important baseline for the development of various biological control options. The two egg parasitoids, Telenomus remus and Trichogramma sp. can be used in augmentative biological control and investigations should be conducted to assess how cultural practices can enhance the action of the main parasitoids, C. luteum and Ch. bifoveolatus, in the field. Understanding the parasitoid complex of S. frugiperda in Africa is also necessary before any development of classical biological controls involving the introduction of parasitoids from the Americas

Efficiency of Traditional Maize Storage and Control Methods in Rural Grain Granaries: a Case Study from Senegal

Maize storage and pest control method as practiced in traditional clay granaries in the Kédougou region in eastern Senegal were evaluated under rural conditions during two successive years. Three storage modes, i.e. maize cobs, winnowed and non-winnowed maize grains, were tested in seven granaries where the insecticidal plants Hyptis spicigera or H. suaveolens were either incorporated in the store structure or deposited as layers intermittently with maize. At the beginning of the storage period, all granaries were artificially infested with 7 pairs Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus zeamais. No damage, losses or live insects were observed during 7 months of storage when maize cobs were placed between layers of H. spicigera. Compared with the control, incorporation of insecticidal plants within the granary bottom had no significant effect on the damage and loss level irrespective of the storage mode. Non-winnowed maize always suffered less damage and losses than the winnowed variant. In all granaries depredation, insect abundance and moisture content were highest toward the end of storage period between June and July

Toward Automation of the Supine Pressor Test for Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia leads to increased risk of morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus. Most previous studies have largely neglected mechanical compression of the left renal vein by the gravid uterus as a potential mechanism. In this study, we first used a murine model to investigate the pathophysiology of left renal vein constriction. The results indicate that prolonged renal vein stenosis after 14 days can cause renal necrosis and an increase in blood pressure (BP) of roughly 30 mmHg. The second part of this study aimed to automate a diagnostic tool, known as the supine pressor test (SPT), to enable pregnant women to assess their preeclampsia development risk. A positive SPT has been previously defined as an increase of at least 20 mmHg in diastolic BP when switching between left lateral recumbent and supine positions. The results from this study established a baseline BP increase between the two body positions in nonpregnant women and demonstrated the feasibility of an autonomous SPT in pregnant women. Our results demonstrate that there is a baseline increase in BP of roughly 10-14 mmHg and that pregnant women can autonomously perform the SPT. Overall, this work in both rodents and humans suggests that (1) stenosis of the left renal vein in mice leads to elevation in BP and acute renal failure, (2) nonpregnant women experience a baseline increase in BP when they shift from left lateral recumbent to supine position, and (3) the SPT can be automated and used autonomously

Taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical hover fly genus Senaspis Macquart (Diptera, Syrphidae)

Open Access Article; Published online: 14 Dec 2020The representatives of the Afrotropical hover fly genus Senaspis Macquart (Diptera) are revised. In total, ten species are recognized. Senaspis apophysata (Bezzi) is herewith placed as junior synonym of S. flaviceps Macquart, S. livida (Bezzi) is herewith placed as junior synonym of S. dentipes (Macquart) and S. griseifacies (Bezzi) is herewith placed as junior synonym of S. haemorrhoa (Gerstaecker). All species are redescribed and an identification key is provided. DNA barcoding analysis (7 species, 64 barcodes) showed that the technique can be used to unambiguously identify the species. The relationships among the different Senaspis species are discussed based on morphological and DNA data

Taxonomic revision of the afrotropical Phytomia gerin-meneville (Diptera: syrphidae)

Open Access Article; Published online: 26 Jun 2020The Afrotropical representatives of the hoverfly genus Phytomia Guérin-Méneville (Diptera) are revised. In total, 19 species are recognized of which three are new to science: Phytomia austeni sp. nov., P. memnon sp. nov., and P. pallida sp. nov. Phytomia neavei Bezzi is considered a junior synonym of P. kroeberi (Bezzi), P. noctilio Speiser a junior synonym of P. pubipennis Bezzi, and P. ephippium Bezzi a junior synonym of P. melas (Bezzi). Lectotypes are designated for the following species: Megaspis bulligera Austen, Megaspis erratica Bezzi, and Megaspis poensis Bezzi. In addition, unpublished lectotype designations are hereby formally published for the following species: Megaspis bullata Loew, Megaspis curta Loew, and Megaspis capito Loew. Phytomia curta (Loew) is considered a valid species, and differentiated from P. natalensis (Macquart). Phytomia fronto Loew is tentatively considered to belong to the genus Simoides Loew. The relationship between the different Phytomia species, as well as the relationship between Phytomia and Simoides, is briefly discussed based on morphological and DNA data

Genome sequence of a Spodoptera frugiperda multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus isolated from fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Nigeria, west Africa

Open Access Article; Published online: 26 Aug 2021We report the entire genome sequence of an isolate of Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus from Nigeria, West Africa. The genome is 132,710 bp long and contains 144 open reading frames. The GC content is 40.3% and, based on baculovirus species demarcation criteria, the isolate belongs to the species Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus

Notes on the Afrotropical hover fly genus Meromacroides Curran (Syrphidae, Eristalinae)

The African endemic hover fly Meromacroides meromacriformis (Bezzi, 1915) (Syrphidae, Eristalinae) was described more than a century ago and its monotypic status established in 1927, but subsequent collections and publications are rare. Only the male has been described and nothing is known about its biology. We re-describe the male, including geographic variation, describe the female for the first time and provide the first DNA barcodes for the species. Despite the large range and observed variations, there is insufficient evidence to describe additional taxa in the genus. Biological observations are presented, which may shed some insight into this rare and enigmatic hover fly, whose known distribution now spans the Afrotropical Region

Estimativa da Evapotranspiração sobre a Bacia do Prata Utilizando Climatologia do IAF

Este trabalho teve por objetivo gerar uma mapa daevapotranspiração anual na área delimitada pela Bacia do Prata através dométodo de Penman-Monteith, escrito de forma que a vegetação seja representadapelo índice de área foliar (IAF). Este índice foi obtido atravésde dados de sensoriamento remoto, utilizando uma climatologiacorrespondente ao período de 1987 a 2007, estimada pelo sensor AVHRR.Os forçantes atmosféricos são obtidos do South American Land DataAssimilation System (SALDAS), e referem-se ao ano de 2000. Os resultadosdemonstram que o método aqui utilizado tem superestimado aevapotranspiração média anual sobre a Bacia do Prata, enquanto sua representaçãoespacial está de acordo com demais estimativas

Total Gastrectomy for locally advanced Cancer: The total Laparoscopic Approach

Total gastrectomy is the treatment of choice for adenocarcinoma of the upper and middle third of the stomach resected with curative intent. The laparoscopic approach allows satisfactory exploration of the peritoneal cavity and optimizes staging in borderline T3 or T4 tumours in patients affected by locally advanced tumours or intraperitoneal carcinomatosis. Laparoscopy can eliminate unnecessary laparotomies in 10 % of patients affected by these conditions with formal contraindications for resection [1] . Complete resection of the stomach associated with D2 lymph node dissection is also performed using a currently well-established technique [2, 3] . The specificity of laparoscopic gastric resection for cancer is that the stomach and the greatomentum are withdrawn separately.Reconstruction of the digestive tract is more complex, and requires a variety of techniques (supra-umbilical mini-laparotomy, Orvil® technique, enlarging a port-site for passage of a circular stapler, mechanical side to side anastomosis, etc), but none ofthese has become the gold standard [4-7] . This explains the difficulties encountered in promoting the widespread use of minimally invasive resection in western countries. Scientific societies insist on the need for prospective studies to establish the place of laparoscopy for gastric cancer (prophylactic gastrectomy for CDH-1 related gastric cancer, < T3 Tumours, palliative gastrectomy) [4] . Here, we present our technique for total resection of the stomach and D2 lymph node dissection, which allows the manualcreation of a feasible, safe, tension-free and effective esojejunal anastomosis. It can be performed by any surgeon familiar with laparoscopic surgery and the principles of oncologic resection. The cost is also relatively low because neither a circular staplernor other special equipment is required. Finally, the incision for extraction of the specimen can be placed in any area of the abdomen (usually through a supra-pubic incision in our practice).Keywords: Gastric cancer, laparoscopy, total gastrectomy, lymphadenectomy, Intracorporeal anastomosis.Total gastrectomy is the treatment of choice for adenocarcinoma of the upper and middle third of the stomach resected with curative intent. The laparoscopic approach allows satisfactory exploration of the peritoneal cavity and optimizes staging in borderline T3 or T4 tumours in patients affected by locally advanced tumours or intraperitoneal carcinomatosis. Laparoscopy can eliminate unnecessary laparotomies in 10 % of patients affected by these conditions with formal contraindications for resection [1] . Complete resection of the stomach associated with D2 lymph node dissection is also performed using a currently well-established technique [2, 3] . The specificity of laparoscopic gastric resection for cancer is that the stomach and the great omentum are withdrawn separately.Reconstruction of the digestive tract is more complex, and requires a variety of techniques (supra-umbilical mini-laparotomy, Orvil® technique, enlarging a port-site for passage of a circular stapler, mechanical side to side anastomosis, etc), but none of these has become the gold standard [4-7] . This explains the difficulties encountered in promoting the widespread use of minimally invasive resection in western countries. Scientific societies insist on the need for prospective studies to establish the place of laparoscopy for gastric cancer (prophylactic gastrectomy for CDH-1 related gastric cancer, < T3 Tumours, palliative gastrectomy) [4] . Here, we present our technique for total resection of the stomach and D2 lymph node dissection, which allows the manual creation of a feasible, safe, tension-free and effective esojejunal anastomosis. It can be performed by any surgeon familiar with laparoscopic surgery and the principles of oncologic resection. The cost is also relatively low because neither a circular stapler nor other special equipment is required. Finally, the incision for extraction of the specimen can be placed in any area of the abdomen (usually through a supra-pubic incision in our practice).Keywords: Gastric cancer, laparoscopy, total gastrectomy, lymphadenectomy, Intracorporeal anastomosis

Spodoptera eridania: current and emerging crop threats from another invasive, pesticide-resistant moth

Open Access Article; Published online: 29 Jun 2022Spodoptera eridania (Stoll), a polyphagous lepidopteran pest from the Americas, has recently invaded western and central Africa. Like its congeners, S. eridania has developed pesticide resistance. The rapid global spread and impacts of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has raised concerns about whether S. eridania is set to do the same. Here we fit a CLIMEX niche model for S. eridania and apply a climate change scenario for 2050 to investigate the sensitivity of the pest threat. We find that S. eridania can potentially expand its range throughout the tropics and into the sub-tropics, threatening a range of important commercial and subsistence crops. An important feature of the pest threat posed by S. eridania is the extent of its ephemeral habitat during warmer months. Modelled climatic changes will mostly expand this species potential range poleward by around 200 km by 2050, indicating a moderate sensitivity. These areas of emerging potential expansion are mostly into subtropical climates, supporting diverse cropping systems, including at risk crops beans, groundnut, potato, soybeans, tomato and sweet potato. The potential distribution of S. eridania in the Amazon basin and the southern boundary of the Sahara Desert appear set to contract substantially due to increasing heat stress. While it may not be as invasive as some of its congeners, nor acquire pesticide resistance as readily, S. eridania does have some of these traits, and the current and emerging pest threat posed by this moth deserves closer attention, especially in relation to intercontinental phytosanitary measures to slow its spread