Browsing by Author "Adu-Acheampong, S."
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Item Arthropod diversity of cocoa farms under two management systems in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana(Springer, 2021) Akesse-Ransford, G.; Owusu, E.O.; Kyerematen, R.; Adu-Acheampong, S.Diversity of insect communities can be used as bioindicators for change in the environment especially in farms under different management systems. In line with that, we conducted a research on insect species associated with cocoa under organic and conventional management systems in the Eastern and Central regions of Ghana. Insect collection was done using Hand height visual count, Canopy, and ‘‘Knock down’’, pitfall, coloured bowl and fruit-baited traps. A total of 13,742 individual insects belonging to 138 species from 63 families and 12 orders were recorded in the study. Insect abundance and diversity were generally higher in organic farms compared to conventional farms with Oecophylla longinoda as the most dominant species in both management systems and especially more dominant in organic cocoa farms Our study revealed that most of the insect species recorded were known cocoa pests although there was high abundance of beneficial insects too. Some of the pest species were Planococoides njalensis, Salh bergella singularis, Helopeltis spp and Pseudococus spp, while some of the beneficial insects recorded were Pheidole spp, Tegenaria spp, Camponotus spp, Cre matogaster spp. We can conclude that cocoa farms are potential habitats for insect biodiversity conservation. We recommend that management and/or agronomic practices used in cocoa farms should be geared towards protecting beneficial organisms for instance pollinators and natural enemies by effectively sup pressing insect pest populations while enhancing good seed production.Item Bio-efficacy, user perception and acceptability of pyrethroid based mosquito coils in controlling Anopheles gambiae s.l., in some parts of Accra, Ghana(Japanese Journal of Medical Entomology and Zoology. Vol. 65 No. 3p. 139-145, 2014) Adu-Acheampong, S.; Kyerematen, R.; Dadzie, S.; Appawu, M.; Boakye, D.; Williams, J.This study was to provide baseline information on patterns of coil usage, user acceptability and susceptibility levels of mosquito coils in some parts of Accra, Ghana. Three hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered to obtain information on knowledge and perception of respondents on the usage of mosquito coils. Adult Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes were tested for resistance to pyrethroid based mosquito coils using WHO standard protocol for testing household insecticide products. A total of 152 out of 320 respondents were direct users of coils. Close to 62% of this number frequently changes brands of coil they use. Over 61% of coil users indicated their willingness to continue to use coils even though there are adverse effects after use. Anopheles gambiae s.s. was the only species that was found in the study area. Mortalities of An. gambiae s.s. after exposure to coils were 37% for Angel®, 37.5% for Lord® and 15% for Heaven mosquito coil brands. More than half of the inhabitants in the area used coils to prevent mosquito bites. However, high levels of resistance was detected for all the three pyrethroid-based coils because West African kdr was detected in about 59% of samples of Anopheles gambiae s.s. that survived the exposure.Item Climate Change Adaptation: An Ecosystem-Based Approach for Livelihood Improvement of Fringe Communities around Worobong South Forest Reserve in Ghana(International Journal of Forestry Research, 2022) Adu-Acheampong, S.; Kyei-Mensah, C.; Kyerematen, R.Anthropogenic and climate-induced change can potentially impact negatively on direct dependents of forest ecosystem services. To help build resilient societies, we examined the vulnerability of ecosystem-dependent communities in the Worobong South Forest Reserve (WSFR). We also examined climate variability impacts on forests and further suggested ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies for livelihood improvements in the study area. The reserve can be found in the Eastern region of Ghana. We administered 250 questionnaires as well as studied time series data for temperature and rainfall with satellite images using the mixed method approach. The types of questionnaires used were open-ended and closed-ended semi structured questionnaires. The study also involved a focus group discussion and the development of trend analysis of relationships between the two data sets in 2016. Our results show that respondents perceived variation in average annual temperature and rainfall over the past few decades as the main reasons for the decline in the supply of bush meat, freshwater, tree barks, and leaves in the study area. The results of the questionnaire corroborated those of the data for the time series obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) which is correlated with changes in the structure of (WSFR). To build resilient livelihoods and ecosystems, residents suggested strategies such as intensification of agroforestry systems with gain sharing arrangements, forest regulation enforcement, and bushfire control as ways to sustain the forests in the WSFR. We conclude that any measure to develop any climate change resilient mechanism in the WSFR should include those suggestions from residentsItem Contact toxicity and proximate effect of fipronil on insect pest and predatory ant community structure in cocoa agro-ecosystem(Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2023) Avicor, S.W.; Awudzi, G.K.; Adu-Acheampong, R.; Boamah-Dankyi, P.; Adu-Acheampong, S.Although usage persists in some countries, fipronil is banned or restricted in many others. Prior to its ban on cocoa in Ghana, concerns about its effect on non-target insects and secondary outbreak of Anomis leona were conflicting. This study, which predates the ban, assessed the toxicity and the short-term effect of fipronil on specific insect community structure in the cocoa agro-ecosystem alongside bifenthrin and a non-insecticide control. Although the insecticides induced a high mortality (90-100%) on the target (mirid: Sahlbergella singu laris, stink bug: Bathycoelia thalassina and coreid bug: Pseudotheraptus devastans) and non-target (ants: Oecophylla longinoda, Crematogaster africana, Pheidole megacephala and Camponotus consobrinus) insects, the knockdown to fipronil was very low compared to bifenthrin. On the field, fipronil was more detrimental to the ants. Insecticide treated plots recorded relatively lower post-treatment pest diversity compared to the control, except the last sampling month while ant abundance, richness and diversity were lowest on the fipronil-treated plots at the end of the study period. This study demonstrates that although fipronil was effective against pests and did not result in acute secondary pest outbreak, it was harmful to the ants. This effect could potentially be replicated on these ant species in other cropping systems where the insecticide is used, adversely affecting ecosystem service de livery. Hence, research on its impact on non-target organisms in other cropping systems is needed to regulate and monitor its use.Item Efficacy of Lemon Extracts in Controlling Mealy Bugs of Stored Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)(Agricultural Science Digest,, 2023) Adu-Gyamfi, R.; Ankutse, E.; Odonkor, I.; Adu-Acheampong, S.Background: The use of plant extracts in controlling mealy bugs is widespread especially on stored products. Despite this, research on lemon extracts, which is known to be very effective against some insect pests are limited. We assessed the repellent ability of lemon extracts in controlling mealy bug infestation and observed if there was any added benefit of the extract in retarding sprouting of yams in storage. Methods: We used the complete randomized design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of lemon peels, lemon leaf extracts and a control. Ten tubers of Pona white yam variety were rubbed on the periderm with each treatment and placed on a shelf. Two yam tubers naturally infested with mealy bugs were placed at the edges of each replication to serve as sources of infestation. Result: Results showed that yam tubers treated with lemon peel extracts recorded relatively low mealy bug counts compared to untreated ones and, tubers treated with lemon extracts recorded relatively higher weights compared to those without any treatment. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in neither counted mealy bugs nor yam weight per treatment between extracts from leaves or peels. Lemon extract treatments did not affect sprouting and shelf life of tubers in storage. We conclude that lemon extracts are effective repellents of mealy bugs and can be promoted as a safe bio pesticide for stored yam against mealy bug infestation.Item Efficacy of Lemon Extracts in Controlling Mealy Bugs of Stored Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)(Agricultural Science Digest, 2023-04) Adu-Acheampong, S.; Adu-Gyamfi, R.; Ankutse, E.; et alBackground: The use of plant extracts in controlling mealy bugs is widespread especially on stored products. Despite this, research on lemon extracts, which is known to be very effective against some insect pests are limited. We assessed the repellent ability of lemon extracts in controlling mealy bug infestation and observed if there was any added benefit of the extract in retarding sprouting of yams in storage. Methods: We used the complete randomized design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of lemon peels, lemon leaf extracts and a control. Ten tubers of Pona white yam variety were rubbed on the periderm with each treatment and placed on a shelf. Two yam tubers naturally infested with mealy bugs were placed at the edges of each replication to serve as sources of infestation. Result: Results showed that yam tubers treated with lemon peel extracts recorded relatively low mealy bug counts compared to untreated ones and, tubers treated with lemon extracts recorded relatively higher weights compared to those without any treatment. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in neither counted mealy bugs nor yam weight per treatment between extracts from leaves or peels. Lemon extract treatments did not affect sprouting and shelf life of tubers in storage. We conclude that lemon extracts are effective repellents of mealy bugs and can be promoted as a safe bio pesticide for stored yam against mealy bug infestation.Item Efficacy of Lemon Extracts in Controlling Mealy Bugs of Stored Yam (Dioscorea rotundata)(Agricultural Science Digest, 2023-04) Adu-Acheampong, S.; Adu-Gyamf, R.; Ankutse, E.; et al.Background: The use of plant extracts in controlling mealy bugs is widespread especially on stored products. Despite this, research on lemon extracts, which is known to be very effective against some insect pests are limited. We assessed the repellent ability of lemon extracts in controlling mealy bug infestation and observed if there was any added benefit of the extract in retarding sprouting of yams in storage. Methods: We used the complete randomized design with three treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of lemon peels, lemon leaf extracts and a control. Ten tubers of Pona white yam variety were rubbed on the periderm with each treatment and placed on a shelf. Two yam tubers naturally infested with mealy bugs were placed at the edges of each replication to serve as sources of infestation. Result: Results showed that yam tubers treated with lemon peel extracts recorded relatively low mealy bug counts compared to untreated ones and, tubers treated with lemon extracts recorded relatively higher weights compared to those without any treatment. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in neither counted mealy bugs nor yam weight per treatment between extracts from leaves or peels. Lemon extract treatments did not affect sprouting and shelf life of tubers in storage. We conclude that lemon extracts are effective repellents of mealy bugs and can be promoted as a safe bio pesticide for stored yam against mealy bug infestation.Item Endemic grasshopper species distribution in an agro-natural landscape of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa(Ecological Engineering, 2017) Adu-Acheampong, S.; Samways, M.J.; Landmann, T.; Kyerematen, R.; Minkah, R.; Mukundamago, M.; Moshobane, C.M.Conservation biologists and ecologists often make use of models to identify important biotic and abiotic factors that constrain species distributions for conservation decisions to be taken. In line with such practices, we developed species distribution models for four localized, Cape Floristic Region (CFR) endemic, flightless, congeneric Euloryma grasshopper species. We chose this group as use of these models has been little explored for narrow range endemics with specific traits. Euloryma larsenorum and E. lapollai are associated with fynbos only, while E. umoja and E. ottei are both associated with fynbos and vineyards. We used the Maximum Entropy algorithm, which showed that vegetation type and soil characteristics were the most important environmental factors affecting local distribution of Euloryma species in the CFR. The models also showed that Euloryma species have a very narrow habitat suitability range in the CFR. We also showed that there are no significant differences in the distribution of species associated with fynbos only as well as those associated with both fynbos and vineyards. E. larsenorum and E lapollai are likely to be the most affected species in the event of further habitat transformation from fynbos to agricultural production. This is not likely to be the case for E. umoja and E. ottei which can tolerate agriculture environment, although they might survive both sets of environments in accordance with their life history traits. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.Item Using Orthoptera and Hymenoptera indicator groups as evidence of degradation in a mining concession (Tarkwa gold mine) in Ghana(International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 2019-10-30) Kyerematen, R.; Adu-Acheampong, S.; Acquah-Lamptey, D.; Anderson, R.S.One of the most important bioindicators of change in habitat conditions, especially in tropical Africa, is change in insect diversity. In line with that, the dynamics of Orthoptera and Hymenoptera insect orders were studied and used as evidence of change in ecosystem health after a similar study on Lepidopteran groups revealed some level of degradation in the Tarkwa Gold Mine (TGM). Orthopteran and Hymenopteran species assemblages were sampled within the mine and characterised based on family diversity. Transect counts, sweep netting, malaise trapping and flight interception trapping methods were employed to sample abundance and diversity of insect assemblages of the above-mentioned insect orders. Results showed that few species belonging to these two orders were recorded within the mine, although the records were dominated by more aggressive and habitat degradation tolerant members as reported for the Lepidopteran group in a previous study. We conclude that records of diversity of these insect orders in this study shows a reduction in the ecosystem health within TGM. This finding is further proof that there is a general decline in biodiversity within the concession and hence care must be taken to encourage environmentally-friendly mining practices to avoid further degradation. Recommendations are made for environmental management to maintain more natural vegetation to serve as refugia for impacted animals within the concession.