A group of scientists have confirmed the first report of an egg parasitoid Telenomus remus in Africa which could prove an important biological weapon in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) that threatens the food security of more than 200 million people.
Coinciding with its regional consultation with member states in Africa, CABI hosted a policy summit on invasive species in Gaborone, Botswana on 28 February. About 70 delegates representing policymakers, research, the private sector and civil society from across Africa gathered to learn about and discuss the impact of invasives as well as the technical and […]
via CABI announces major commitments in fight against invasive species — The Invasives Blog
The world’s deadliest mushroom has been popping up in Vancouver, Victoria and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia. This mushroom species accounts for 90% of the world’s deaths by poisonous mushrooms, it has been reported.
In B.C. it has been popping up in lawns and boulevards and is apparently spreading progressively along the south coast.
Center for Biological Diversity New Release New Analysis: Curbing Pesticides Key to Reversing Insect Apocalypse More Than 40 Percent of World’s Insect Species on Fast-track to Extinction PORTLAND, Ore.— Authors of a major new scientific review of the catastrophic decline of insects say a “serious reduction in pesticide usage” is key to preventing the extinction […]
via Curbing Pesticides Key to Reversing Insect Apocalypse — Natural History Wanderings
CABI scientists have helped map the ferocious speed and probable cause of a devastating spread of the invasive alien tree Prosopis juliflora (Swartz DC) across an area equivalent to half of neighbouring Djibouti in the Afar Region of north eastern Ethiopia. Dr Urs Schaffner, who is supervising lead author Hailu Shiferaw for his PhD […]
By Baraka Rateng’. Reblogged from SciDev.Net. A dangerous waterweed is spreading across water bodies in Southern Africa and could soon strangle life-supporting services such as fishing if it is not controlled, a scientist says. The waterweed called Limnobium laevigatum or South American sponge plant floats on water bodies and has the potential to invade other plants and decrease biodiversity, according […]
via Dangerous waterweed spreading in Southern Africa — The Invasives Blog
A report from Loop Jamaica. Scientists are concerned that a mosquito-borne disease transmitted from animals to humans could spread throughout the Caribbean after it was found to be present in Haiti. A release said Madariaga virus (MADV), or South American eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), has, until now, been found primarily in animals of South and […]
via Scientists concerned that Madariaga virus could spread to Caribbean — Repeating Islands
