NAIROBI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Scientists at a Kenya-based insect research center said have discovered the potential of a parasitic wasp in controlling aphids, which attack African indigenous vegetable (AIV).
Scientists at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) said that they found that the wasp called Aphidius colemani was able to kill over 60 percent of the aphids that had infested the African nightshade crop.
"Aphids are a major problem that affects the vegetables especially nightshade as it cause yield losses of 36-100 percent in farmers farms," Researcher Daniel Mureithi confirmed to Xinhua on Thursday.
He said the discovery means that ultimately, the nightshade vegetable farmers may get rid of pesticides, thus making the vegetable safer for human consumption.
Mureithi is studying pest population dynamics and disease infestation pathways to help develop integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for small-scale vegetable farmers.
He said the Aphidius colemani wasp is a known species but it was the first time for them to discover its potential of managing aphids by eating and displacing them from the vegetables.
"The farmers can save their vegetables by releasing the wasps on the vegetables that are affected by aphids, taking over their habitats and they die," he said.
Sunday Ekesi, ICIPE's Director of Research and Partnerships, highlighted the significance of the discovery as he said the African nightshade is the third most produced AIV in Kenya.
"The threat to the vegetables means that the high amounts of vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium, iron and proteins that it provides will not be there," he added.
