This study assessed the insect pest infestation of tomato during 2011 and 2012 in three localities namely Bula Kuliye, Kajeri and Soye of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria. Fifty plants were randomly checked per farmers' field for insect pest recovery and count. Sampling was carried out in five to nine farmers' fields per locality. With 38-52 %, 9-62 %, 13-39 % and 5-9 % species composition respectively across localities, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) followed by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were more predominant insect pests of tomato in these localities over Tetranychus sp. (Acari: Tetranichidae) and Spodoptera litoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Total proportion of infested tomato plants per farmers' field ranged from 19-36 %, and was significantly higher in Bula Kuliye and Kajeri than in Soye. Total number of insect pests per plant/leave and bored fruits per farmers' field fell between 2-5 and 21-35, and likewise, was higher in Bula Kuliye and Kajeri than in Soye. Although tomato plant infestation and fruit damage were found to be moderate or high in these localities, future studies on the bionomics or population dynamics of these insects remain essential for establishing their economic status.

The species composition, abundance and distribution of molluscs population together with some physico-chemical variables from five different stations in the littoral region of lake Alau, Maiduguri Borno state, were studied from October 2001 to September 2002. Three patterns of seasonal abundance were found, maximal abundance during the rainy season (July-September), moderate abundance during the harmattan season (November-February) and minimal abundance in the dry hot season (March-June). Significant dif erences in species composition and abundance of the molluscs were found between stations studied. The total number of organisms recorded was 3368 comprising of 1924 Bivalves and 1544 Gastropoda. 8 families were recorded which includes Bithyniidae, Hydrobiidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Valvatidae, Vivipariidae, Sphaeridae and Unionidae while 15 species were observed in this study. The predominant families in terms of total number collected from all stations Sphaeridae and Unionidae recording 1006 and 933 organisms with the percentage compositions of 29 86% and 27 7%. The least was from the families Lymnaci dae w h ota number of 116 and 3.44% as the percentage composi on. The abundance of the molluscs was positively and significantly correlated at 5% confidence with temperature (r = 0.675), dissolved oxygen (r = 0.832), phosphate (r = 0.528).

A study was conducted to assess the effect of treatments with the recommended application rate of α-Cypermethrin, Permethrin, Allethrin, Tetramethrin, Cyhalothrin and Deltamethrin pesticides on Bemisia tabaci biotypes. Two localities each were selected from three States of Northeastern Nigeria for sample collections and determination of susceptibility to the insecticides. The localities include Toro and Wuro wasse in Bauchi State, College of Agric farm center (COAG) and Tudun wada in Borno State, Dadin kowa and Kwadon in Gombe State. The insecticides were applied against adult B. tabaci using a leaf-dip bioassay. Insect population that survived any of the insecticides after 24 hours post exposures were considered resistance to the insecticide and their biotypes were determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Overall mean mortality response was 88.89%, 91.27%, 88.09%, 96.83%, 93.65%, and 96.05 for α-Cypermethrin, Permethrin, Allethrin, Tetramethrin, Cyhallothrin and Deltamethrin respectively and all were significantly different from control (P<0.05). Populations from Kwadon showed high resistant factor to α-Cypermethrin, Tetramethrin and Cyahallothrin (RF = 221.99, 128.05 and 98.8-folds respectively). All populations displayed significant resistance to Allethrin (RF ranging from7.01-fold in Tudun wada to 78.93-fold in Kwadon. Tetramethrin resistant was followed by Dadin kowa and Tudun wada (RF = 13.43 and 13.33) respectively and Cyahallothrin resistant was followed by population from Dadin kowa (RF = 82.94-folds) while Deltamethrin resistant was found to be insignificant between almost all locations. Biotype B exhibited higher resistance for all the evaluated insecticides compared to Q in all locations.

This study assessed the insect pest infestation of tomato during 2011 and 2012 in three localities namely Bula Kuliye, Kajeri and Soye of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria. Fifty plants were randomly checked per farmers’ field for insect pest recovery and count. Sampling was carried out in five to nine farmers’ fields per locality. With 38-52 %, 9-62 %, 13-39 % and 5-9 % species composition respectively across localities, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) followed by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) were more predominant insect pests of tomato in these localities over Tetranychus sp. (Acari: Tetranichidae) and Spodoptera litoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Total proportion of infested tomato plants per farmers’ field ranged from 19-36 %, and was significantly higher in Bula Kuliye and Kajeri than in Soye. Total number of insect pests per plant/leave and bored fruits per farmers’ field fell between 2-5 and 21-35, and likewise, was higher in Bula Kuliye and Kajeri than in Soye. Although tomato plant infestation and fruit damage were found to be moderate or high in these localities, future studies on the bionomics or population dynamics of these insects remain essential for establishing their economic status.

A study on ecological preference of breeding sites of Anopheles gambiae compared to other mosquito species were carried out in small natural microcosms. A total of sixteen small ponds, four each from North, South, East and West of Maiduguri Metropolitan were surveyed for the breeding and nonbreeding sites for mosquitoes. In each pond mosquito larvae samples were collected by dip method after identifying species by their angular positions and later confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Water samples from which collection of A. gambiae and non-Anopheles gambiae larvae were also collected and analyzed for physico-chemical properties following the standard laboratory procedures. The results revealed that, preference of breeding site of A. gambiae is dependent on the physico-chemical nature of water habitat. Of a total of 30 parameters analyzed, pairwise comparison using SPSS software revealed that 11of the physico-chemical parameters significantly varied (P<0.05) between A. gambiae and non-A. gambiae breeding sites.