The depletion of fish stocks in Lake Victoria is putting severe strain on fish supplies for human consumption and aquaculture feed formulation. Due to the fish stocks high demand and limited supply, fishmeal prices are rising, increasing the cost of feed for aquaculture. As a result, up to 70% of variable aquaculture expenditures are related to feed. Alternative feed sources, such as insect meals, have been heavily advocated for in light of the limited supply of fishmeal. This study replaced fish meal (FM) with black soldier fly larvae (BSF) meal (in Oreochromis niloticus diet, with replacement levels ranging from FM 0%, BSF 2 25%, BSF 3 50%, BSF 4 75% and BSF 5 100%). The feeding trial lasted 84 days and evaluated the effect of replacing BSF on fish's growth performance. Results indicate that all the fish accepted the experimental diets well. Regression on categorical variables analyses on growth performance revealed a significant relationship between the variables for length and weight respectively. For log length F (5, 99) = 628.02, P<0.05, with an R 2 of 0.96 and log weight (5, 99) = 977.61., P<0.05 with an R 2 of 0.97. In terms of economic analysis, O. niloticus fed with increasing levels of H. illucens was more profitable at replacement levels of 50, 75 and 100%. Based on these findings replacing fishmeal with Hermetia illucens by up to 50% is more cost effective for aquaculture production and can effectively contribute to higher yields and optimal O. niloticus growth performance.

The main objective of this study was to compare the amino acid profiles of P.grandiceps, M. jeanelli and A. tenax. The study was carried out in Trans-Nzoia at an altitude of 1,900 meters, with a latitude of 1°1'8.72"N, and longitude of 35°0'8.3"E. Termite alates was collected when swarming and placed in 500grams collection jars and taken to the laboratory for amino acid analysis. Some of the alates and a number of small or large soldiers and workers were preserved in 80% ethanol for identification at the National Museums of Kenya. The collected termite alates were analyzed for composition of amino acids using standard methods detailed in AOAC (2000). From the results, there was no significant difference in amino acid content, amino acid classes, amino acid groups and total essential amino acids and total non-essential amino acids of the three termite species. Glutamic acid was the most abundant of the three species. It ranged between 8.43g/100g -15.5g/100g. The lowest concentrated amino acid was cysteine ranging between 0.60g/100g-3.92g/100g. Leucine was found to be the most highly concentrated essential amino acid (eaa); 7.72g/100g crude protein in P. grandiceps, 7.48g/100g in M. jeanelli and 5.51g/100g in A. tenax. Methionine was the lowest eaa in P. grandiceps at 0.88g/100g crude protein while Histidine was the lowest eaa in both M. jeanelli and A. tenax at 2.15g/100g and 2.09g/100g respectively.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), is a high protein crop and the main legume in the cropping system of western Kenya. Despite its importance, common bean yields are low (<1.0 t/ha) and declining. Bean Common mosaic virus (BCMV) and Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV) are the most common and most destructive and can cause a yield loss as high as 100%. In Kenya, limited cultivars and exotic genotypes with resistance to BCMV and BCMNV strains have been reported. Reports indicate BCMNV being a widespread virus compared to BCMV in western Kenya. This study therefore, sought to screen popular cultivars for resistance to the virus. Sixteen popularly grown bean cultivars together with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), soybean (Glycine max) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) were planted in a green house in a completely randomized block design with three replicates. The plants were inoculated with BCMNV Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) positive isolate at 3-leaf stage. Data was taken weekly for 3 weeks on type of symptoms expressed and number of plants infected. Ten bean cultivars were susceptible, 4 tolerant and 2 resistant. For improved yields of common bean, farmers should be advised to plant certified seeds for all legumes in the cropping system.

Imidacloprid is a termiticide that is slow-acting timber and soil applied but can be transferred in termite workers. The objective of this study was to determine efficacy of imidacloprid to control of termites on sand. Termiticides were tested at Imidacloprid 200 g/L concentrations (2 mL/L, 4 mL/L, 6 mL/L and 8 m/L) were tested. Descriptive analysis presented the mean weight loss for wood blocks under treated sand as follows E. grandis 0.003 (Std: 0.02) and G. robusta 0.013 (Std: 0.04) whereby only woodblocks under treated sand with 2 mL/L were attacked, while the mean weight loss for untreated woods under untreated sand were as follows E. grandis was  0.1 (std: 0.06) and G. robusta was 0.216 (std: 0.147). However, termites attacked all untreated wood blocks regardless of wood species. It was concluded that Imidacloprid at concentration of 4 mL/L serves as the best concentration threshold required in the control of  termites on sand in the management of termites. It was recommended that soil is effective mode of applying imidacloprid termiticide integratedly given that the right concentration levels are utilized.