Background This study was conducted to generate baseline information on population dynamics of Fall Army Worm (FAW) in cassava-maize intercrop for management technique. Maize (Zea mays) is Africa’s most staple food crop with pest complex as major constraints to its production. The study was carried out at the Abuja Campus of the University of Port Harcourt, Faculty of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm. A plot size of 3298 m2 was cleared and ploughed; afterward, thirty six (36) ridges were made for the planting. Three varieties of maize grains (a hybrid Oba Super 98, white and yellow locals) were used for the study. Two cropping patterns (Sole maize and Cassava-Maize.-Intercrop) as main factor with a total of 18 sole and 18 intercrop plots and pheromone trap heights (at 1 m and 1.5 m) as sub-factor were used. The traps were mounted 18 days after planting and insect collection commenced at dawn the following day. FAW data in each trap were collected daily between 06.00 and 07.00 h. Maize cobs, fresh and dry weights, numbers of FAW exit holes, tunnels and tunnel lengths were recorded for both cropping patterns in each maize variety. Data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance. Results The results show higher mean value of FAW count in pheromone trap height placed at 1.5 m, and Oba super 98 maize variety intercropped with cassava had higher FAW count. There were significantly higher (P < 0.05) FAW exit holes in maize with pheromone trap height placed at 1.5 m, and maize-cassava intercrops had higher mean values of FAW exit holes. Number of tunnels and tunnel lengths (cm) due to FAW infestation were higher in maize varieties where pheromone traps were placed at 1.5 m. Conclusion Intercropping maize with cassava may suggest increase in FAW bionomics and the presence of abundant host which might increase a spike in its peak period of infestation. The presence of cassava in maize-cassava cropping pattern encourages feeding and/or oviposition of FAW on maize plant; therefore, an alternative cropping pattern should be encouraged in the region.

The bio-pesticidal potential of Nigella sativa seed powder in the management of Dermestes maculatus in codfish (Gadus morhua) was evaluated in the laboratory. D. maculatus beetles were obtained from naturally infested smoked fish, cultured at ambient temperature for the establishment of new stock and same age adults. Purchased N. sativa seeds were ground into fine powder, weighed at 0.4 g, 0.8 g, 1.2 g, 1.6 g and 2.0 g for use in the bioassay. The treatments were separately added into 40 g codfish kept in Kilner jar into which two sexed pairs of D. maculatus were introduced and observed. From the results, the number of the developmental stages (larvae, pupae and adults) of D. maculatus in codfish treated with N. sativa seed powder was inversely proportional to the concentration of the seed powder. Thus, an increase in the concentration of N. sativa powder generated reduction in the mean number of D. maculatus progeny found in the codfish after 35 days as follows: at 0.4 g, progeny development was (103.50, 7.75, 2.50) and 77.00, 8.25 and 1.00 at 2.0 g respectively for larva, pupa and adult stages. Percentage protection conferred by the botanical on D. maculatus showed that all the doses applied were effective. Corrected mortality of D. maculatus adults after 45 days of exposure to the different doses of N. sativa treatments also increased with an increase in concentration of N. sativa from 0.4 g to 2.0 g. Frass weight generated by D. maculatus activity in codfish treated with N. sativa powder was high in codfish treated at 1.6 g. Finally, N. sativa characterized both qualitatively and quantitatively for phytochemicals, proved the secondary metabolites with bio-pesticide potentials against D. maculatus such as phenols, Alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoid, saponin, tannin, Cardiac glycoside, anthraquinone, steroid and oxalate in different proportion, therefore, should be utilized in Integrated Pest Management program of stored codfish.

Thymol (1) a major constituent of the South Eastern Nigeria variety of ocimum gratissimum popularly known as nchawu (scent leaf) was converted to its O-methyl (2), O-ethyl (3), acetate (4) and the Benzyloxy (5) derivatives that are characterized by their spectral data such as infra red, proton n.m.r. and mass spectra. Tests on their insecticidal potency show that, like the parent compound thymol (1), they also possess insecticidal properties in decreasing order Benzyloxy > Acetate > O-ethyl > O-methyl. This order is explained partly by the electron withdrawing tendency of the benzyloxy and acetate groups and also that, as the molecular weight of the derivatives increases the solubility decreases. @JASEMThe menace caused by malaria in Nigeria is so devastating that both Government and some organizations have initiated various strategies and programmes for the control of the adult and larvae of the vector (Curtis 1990, Onon 1980and Matanmi 1991 which causes the disease. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Government recently demonstrated a pragmatic approach to the problem of malaria eradication by launching the "roll back malaria."An indigenous plant Ocimum gratissimum of the family labiatae (Hutchinson andDalziel 1987 andSaunders 1958) has been reported to be rich in geraniol (Charles and Simon 1992) and thymol (Bobmanuel and Jack 2004) and also shown to have antimicrobial, insecticidal and fungicidal properties (Awah 1994 andOfuya 1990). We have harnessed the structure of thymol and prepared its O-methyl (2), O-ethyl (3), acetate (4) and benzyloxy (5) derivatives scheme 1 with a view to determining their suitability or potentials as insecticides/larvicides. MATERIALS AND METHODSInfra red spectra were recorded on Pye Unicam SP 1050 spectrometer. 1 H n.m.r., spectra were obtained from varian HA 100 spectrometer using TMS as an internal standard and chemical shifts are given as δ (ppm). Mass spectra were taken on an AETMS 9 double focusing spectrometer at 250 o C and 70 ev. All reagents and solvents were purified before use.Anopheles mosquito larvae were cultured within the main campus of Rivers State College of Education, Rumuolumeni. Five sets of about 2 kg custard buckets were two-third filled with water and left open outside for about two months. By the time of the experimental set up, thousands of larvae were hatched. The buckets were then covered with fine mesh sized netted material and kept in the laboratory at room temperature of 30 ± 2 o C until use.An aqueous stock suspension of 25g Ocimum gratissimun leaves (also collected on the same campus) in 250ml water was prepared. Based on previous studies (BobManuel and Jack 2004) 20% w/v of the stock suspension was used which was recorded to effect more than 85% mortality of larvae three days after treatment. 2 mls each of Thymol methyl ether (2), Ethyl ether (3), acetate (4) and the benzyloxy derivative (5) in 10ml water were used with 12ml thymol as control.10 larvae of the same age were counted into each of 15 petri d...

Samples of cured fish were collected from different major markets in Rivers State, Nigeria. Each product was purchased from three different traders and kept in an air tight Ziploc envelope containing general information. Some of the samples were kept in 250 g plastic containers and kept on a laboratory bench for a period of 45 days to observe insect emergence while the other lots were taken to Austino Research Laboratory for pesticide residue analysis. The result shows varying degrees of damage ranging from slightly to undamaged and mean number of D. maculatus emergence was higher in smoked fish samples obtained at Rumuokwuta. The result also shows that in all the cured fish sampled, DDT, Captan, Hexazinone, and Tecnazene were found above the FAO/WHO MRLs and few compounds were below the MRLs. Conclusively, relevant authorities and agencies needs to increase surveillance and monitoring to check and control the illegal importation, sale and use of such compounds especially in controlling stored pests of cured fish. This could reduce cases of pesticide toxicity and food poisoning and other health implications due to its ingestion in such contaminated cured fish. Contribution/Originality:The objective of this research therefore was to determine the levels of pesticide residues in cured fish sold in selected markets in Rivers State Nigeria and to compare their residues content with FAO/WHO MRLs.