Publications

Feb 2021

Oviposition responses of Bactrocera dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra to Dufour’s and poison gland extracts of Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Mekonnen, Bethelihem, Yusuf, Abdullahi, Pirk, Christian, Ekesi, Sunday et al.

International Journal of Tropical Insect Science

The predatory African weaver ant, Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) effectively control pests by predation as well...

Jan 2021

The Biology of the Cape Honey Bee, Apis mellifera capensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae): A Review of Thelytoky and Its Influence on Social Parasitism and Worker Reproduction

Mumoki, F. N., Yusuf, A. A., Pirk, C. W. W., Crewe, R. M.

ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

AbstractCohesion in social insect colonies is maintained by use of chemical signals produced by the queen, workers, and brood. In...

Jul 2021

A novel vehicle-mounted sticky trap; an effective sampling tool for savannah tsetse flies Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and Glossina morsitans centralis Machado

Muyobela, Jackson, Pirk, Christian W. W., Yusuf, Abdullahi A., Mbewe, Njelembo J. et al.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Author summary The fly round is a mobile method used to sample G. m. morsitans and G. m. centralis, important vectors of human...

Jan 2021

Plant nutrient quality impacts survival and reproductive fitness of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti

Nyasembe, Vincent Odhiambo, Tchouassi, David Poumo, Muturi, Martha Njeri, Pirk, Christian W. W. et al.

Parasites & Vectors

In a recent study using DNA barcoding, we identified the plants fed upon by four Afro-tropical mosquito species that vector...

Mar 2021

Plant sugar feeding patterns of wild-caught Aedes aegypti from dengue endemic and non-endemic areas of Kenya

Wanjiku, C., Tchouassi, D. P, Sole, C. L, Pirk, C. et al.

Medical and Veterinary Entomology

Abstract A fundamental understanding of plant sugar feeding behaviour in vector populations can lead to the development of...

2021

Biological traits of wild-caught populations of Aedes aegypti in dengue endemic and non-endemic regions of Kenya

Wanjiku, Caroline, Tchouassi, David. P., Sole, Catherine L., Pirk, Christian W.W. et al.

Journal of Vector Ecology

Variation in vector traits can modulate local scale differences in pathogen transmission. Here, we compared seasonal variation in...

May 2022

Gene-set enrichment analysis of selective sweeps reveals phenotypic traits in Nguni cattle

South African Journal of Animal Science

Adaptation of animals to different environments is typically associated with structural and functional genomic variations. High...

Jan 2021

Evaluation of an improved Katambora grass cultivar G HR1 for root-knot nematode management in tobacco

Makunde PT, Dimbi S, Mahere TS, Banana S et al.

South African Journal of Plant and Soil

Dec 2021

Effect of Poultry and Goat Manures on the Nutrient Content of Sesamum alatum Leafy Vegetables

Sesamum alatum Thonn. is one of the less-popular but nutritious leafy vegetables that is still collected from the wild or as...