Research Article
Whitefly–Natural Enemy Dynamics and Cassava Mosaic Disease Evaluated Under Field Condition in Sierra Leone
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
1-15
Received:
11 December 2025
Accepted:
25 December 2025
Published:
19 January 2026
Abstract: Bemisia tabaci is a major pest of cassava in sub-Saharan Africa, causing yield losses through direct feeding and its role in transmitting cassava mosaic disease (CMD). Natural enemies such as lacewings, ladybird beetles, and spiders provide valuable biological control services, yet their interactions with different whitefly developmental stages and plant structural traits remain insufficiently characterized. This study examined the dynamics among natural enemies, whitefly eggs, nymphs, adults, and plant height across 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after planting (MAP) under field conditions. The trial was conducted under natural cassava production conditions during 2020/2021 cropping season at the upland experimental site of the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Njala University. A total of 270 cassava genotypes comprising 268 local varieties and 2 improved checks (SLICASS 4 and SLICASS 6) were laid out in an augmented randomized design with four blocks. Results showed that lacewings and spiders strongly tracked nymph and adult whitefly populations, while ladybird beetles showed weaker associations. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed alignment of predators with pest pressure during mid- and late season, whereas plant height exhibited minimal influence. Findings underscore the central role of lacewings and spiders in early and sustained suppression of whitefly populations, highlighting the importance of conservation-based integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Findings serve as useful guide for conservation biological control as a primary IPM strategy for the enhancement of habitats for effective predators (lacewings and spiders) of the whitefly through reduced pesticide use, ground vegetation retention, intercropping, and maintenance of natural refuge habitats.
Abstract: Bemisia tabaci is a major pest of cassava in sub-Saharan Africa, causing yield losses through direct feeding and its role in transmitting cassava mosaic disease (CMD). Natural enemies such as lacewings, ladybird beetles, and spiders provide valuable biological control services, yet their interactions with different whitefly developmental stages and...
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Research Article
Identification and Characterisation of Organic Acids in Wasp (Sceliphron caementarium) (Sphecidae) and Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Formicidae)
Lamidi Babatunde Tajudeen*
,
John Queen,
Imohiosen Ojeaga,
Tajudeen Abdulmajid Omoniyi
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, March 2026
Pages:
16-25
Received:
27 February 2026
Accepted:
12 March 2026
Published:
11 May 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.aje.20261001.12
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Abstract: The medical risk associated with the social insects of the order Hymenoptera is due to the organic acids in them. An organic compound is a type of chemical compound that contains at least one atom of carbon covalently bonded with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen or Nitrogen. The research is aimed at exploring and identifying the organic acids present in insect species: mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) and the carpenter ant (Camponous pennsylvanicus). The goal is to investigate the organic compound diversity in these species. The methodology involved analytical techniques using Gas-Chromatography - Mass Spectrophotometre (GC-MS) which enabled the identification and characterisation of the extracted organic acids. The findings revealed that the mud-dauber wasp (S. caementarium) contained sixteen (16) organic acids, including Trans -13- octadecenoic, 11-octadecenoic acid, 12 - octadecenoic acid, Cis- 13 - Eicosenoic acid and others. The Black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is composed of eighteen (18) organic acids, including 2 - butenedioc acid, Tridecanoic acid, Sulfurous acid and oxalic acid among others. Moreover, six (6) of the organic acids are common to both insect species. The study provides a detailed and comprehensive examination of the diverse array of organic acids. The identification and quantification of these organic acids not only contribute to our knowledge of metabolic pathways of these insects, but also open doors to potential applications in medicine and agriculture
Abstract: The medical risk associated with the social insects of the order Hymenoptera is due to the organic acids in them. An organic compound is a type of chemical compound that contains at least one atom of carbon covalently bonded with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen or Nitrogen. The research is aimed at exploring and identifying the organic acids p...
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