[en] Full text: Setting up of quality control comparison of insectary-reared and field caught Glossina fuscipes fuscipes in Uganda involves foremost pupal parameters from emergence period to adults to pupal size, weights and search for parasitoids in the field caught pupae. Besides some DNA characterization and profiling will be reported for G. f. fuscipes Uganda strain and the laboratory reared Central African strain. This will support the 'Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign' efforts to provide quality sterile males that are also compatible with wild population(s) being targeted for eradication. (author)

[en] Full text: In the field, medfly females can copulate more than once. This behaviour may be critical for the application of SIT against medfly natural populations. Whether the frequency of remating is dependent on both ecological conditions and population density is under investigation. Moreover, the observation that, in wild populations, remating is accompanied by a strong paternity skew, led to the formulation of an hypothesis on the mechanisms that regulate the use of sperm from different males. The elucidation of these mechanisms has been undertaken in the laboratory, using fly strains with different internal molecular markers. This will allow the description of the most significant medfly sexual/population behaviours to consider for SIT planning. (author)

[en] Full text: The piggyBac transposable element from the Lepidopteran species Trichoplusia ni is currently the most widely used vector for insect transgenesis. Consequently, the presence of piggyBac-like sequences has been investigated, by PCR and Southern analysis, in different species of target genera such as Ceratitis, Bactrocera and Anastrepha, along with Tirhitromina and Rhagoletis. PiggyBac-like sequences were detected in several Bactrocera species. The evolution of the piggyBac-like sequences is discussed with respect to the phylogenies of the hosts. (author)

[en] Full text: This study was carried out to investigate the population fluctuations of lepidopteran species by means of pheromone traps in stored tobacco in the Osmangazi and Mudanya districts of Bursa province, Turkey during 2000-2002. Adult population fluctuations of lepidopteran species were monitored using 'Pherocon II' type traps and 'IMM+4' pheromone capsules and the number of the adults caught in traps evaluated weekly. As a result of these studies, it was determined that the most important economic pest in stored tobacco was Ephestia elutella (Huebn.). In addition, adult flights of Plodia interpunctella Huebn. were also observed in these stores. However, E. elutella had 2-3 peaks in tobacco warehouses in Osmangazi, whereas 3-4 peak flights were observed in Mudanya. Pheromone traps were effective in determining the adult emergence and pest densities in storage houses and thus they could be an important aid in appropriate timing of insecticide applications, which could result in fewer applications of insecticide for managing stored product pests. (author)

[en] Full text: Through participation in the FAO/IAEA coordinated research project 'Enabling Technologies for the Expansion of SIT for Old and New World Screwworm Fly', we have been able to analyse samples of New World screwworm fly from across the range of this insect pest. This presentation will bring together data from a range of genetic markers that have been used to assess levels of genetic variation within populations of the New World screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax. The markers used include: rRNA gene sequences, together with sequence information from protein coding genes, and microsatellites, allowing variation to be assessed at a range of levels from species to population. (author)

[en] Full text: The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) entered into force for all WTO Member countries in 2000. It states that measures to protect human, animal and plant health or life shall be based on international standards where possible. These measures shall be based on a scientific risk assessment and should be implemented only to the extent necessary to achieve an appropriate level of protection. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is the international standard setting body for protecting plant health identified in the SPS Agreement. Both international treaties make provision for control of pests at regional levels (regionalisation) and for identification of pest free areas. The IPPC provides guidance to countries, in the form of international standards, on the implementation of pest free areas and pest risk analysis (including Systems Approaches and other risk management measures). The implementation of area-wide pest management programmes should meet IPPC standards. Countries meeting IPPC requirements can take advantage of liberalised trade while maintaining their phytosanitary security. (author)

[en] Full text: Laboratory studies were carried out to investigate the susceptibility of seven date palm fruit cultivars to Oryzaephilus surinamensis infestation. Chemical properties of these fruits were also determined to emphasize their relation with the number of progeny produced by O. surinamensis and the percentage loss caused in the fruits. Date fruits of all examined date palm cultivars were relatively susceptible to O. surinamensis infestation. Clearly significant differences were found between the fruit cultivars in the number of O. surinamensis progeny produced and loss percentage. The fruit cultivars showed clearly differences in their chemical properties, which are positively and significantly correlated with the number of progeny and loss percentage. Amino acids followed by carbohydrates were considered the most important fruit components, which affected the number of progeny by O. surinamensis. (author)

[en] Full text: The excessive use of chemical pesticides to control agricultural pests is becoming alarming. The objective of this study is to search for biopesticides of plant origin that could be used to control one of the major pest of fruit production; the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata Wied.). A colony of the Lebanese wild strain of this insect was reared under laboratory condition to provide biological material. The insecticidal activity of the essential oils extracted from aromatic plants in Lebanon was assessed. The tested plants are: Foeniculum vulgare, Thymbra spicata, Artemisia herba alba, Origanum syriacum, Ruta chalepensis, Lavandula stoechas, Salvia fruticosa, Mentha microphylla, Juniperus oxycedrus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Myrtus communis, Laurus nobilis and Ocimum gratissimum. Results show that essential oils isolated from F. vulgare, T. spicata, A. herba alba, O. syriacum and R. chalepensis have promising insecticidal potential. (author)

[en] The objective of this study was to determine the distribution and characteristics of cases of human myiasis admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), in the parish of St. James, between 1999 to 2003, following the inception of the National Screwworm Eradication Programme (NSEP) in 1998, and the risk factors associated with the condition. All cases of maggot infestation admitted were filed as 'Myasis' in the computer database of the Department of Medical Records of the CRH. There were a total of 152 cases, of which only 144 cases of myiasis were available for review for the study period 1999 to 2003. A data extraction form was devised by the authors to review the circumstances of each case. The data were analysed using EpiInfo version 6. This study shows that the young and old are particularly at risk for myiasis. There has been no significant decrease in the number of cases of human myiasis seen at the CRH since the inception of the NSEP. At present no protocol exists for the management of active human myiasis. Such cases are not being reported to the relevant national authorities, as unpublished statistics over the study period, 1999 to 2003, totaled 11 myiasis cases for the parish of St. James. It is recommended that this zoonosis become a Class 2 reportable disease to the Ministries of Health and of Agriculture, because of the existing NSEP

[en] Full text: For the purpose of boosting the fruit and vegetable exports of the Central American countries through fruit fly suppression/eradication actions, new approaches are used: - A multilateral alliance instead of isolated efforts. Thus, four international organisations, two donors Government institutions and the region's seven countries joined their efforts, coordinated by the IAEA; - A strategy of incremental enlargement of isolated low prevalence or free areas, instead of the old approach of attempting to eradicate the pest from the entire region; and - The use of pilot experimental areas, on which all elements that play a key role in a pest-free production-exports system are applied, instead of focusing only on some technologies in the field. Outcomes include the implementation of medfly-free areas in Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and Panama is also in the process of doing so. Guatemala is presently negotiating with the Mexican Government the export of peach from its fruit fly-free zone in the Department of Quetzaltenango. Major constraints encountered are: - Weak alliances among the international organisations, - Troublesome coordination between Governments and the producers-exporters, - Insufficient trained civil servants in the Government and, - Insufficient funding to transfer the actions to bigger areas. (author)