The Crop Protection Division/Department is one of the core Research Departments of the Institute. The Institute has five objectives in her mandates to research on 5 mandate crops (Cocoa, Kola, Coffee, Cashew and Tea). Crop Protection Department works directly on three objectives (ii – identification of the bioecology and methods of control of pests and diseases affecting the mandate crops; iv – integration of the mandate crops into cropping systems where each crop is grown by the farmers and v – translation of research results and improved technologies into practice among farmers and manufacturers in order to improve production and socio-economic life of the people) and partly on the remaining two mandate objectives. The Department comprises of 2 Sections: Entomology and Pathology with some other units based on professional competence of the Scientists. The Department has other members of staff like Laboratory Technologist, Agricultural Superintendent, Agricultural Field Officers that are supporting the research activities in the Department.

The Department has worked and still working on all the mandate crops with attendant results and/or proofs in enhancing the quantity and quality of production of the mandate crops as well as environment and sustainable livelihood of end users of research output (Institutional Handbook can be visited for some highlights).

Entomology Section, CRIN

Entomology Section of the Institute was established to identify and study the bioecology, morphometrics and systematics, Applied Insect survey and diagnostic studies, Insect bionomics, Insect genetics, control options and other applied aspects of insect science of the mandate crops with a view to provide environment friendly and sustainable solutions to the problems of insect pests associated with challenges of cocoa, kola, coffee, cashew and tea in Nigeria. The Section is also mandated to screen insecticides, screen sprayers and/or spraying pumps using standard protocols before the agrochemical companies or spraying pump producers are allowed to sell their products to farmers and other stakeholders dealing in CRIN mandate crops.   Similarly, the Section trains farmers and other stakeholders along the value chain of the mandate crops of the Institute on Responsible Pesticide Usage (with respect to Health Hazards and Biosafety, Insecticide Metabolism, Toxicity classification and Lethal Doses Interpretations), Sprayer Calibration and Application Rate, Good Agricultural and Environmental Practices using AESA Technique and Population dynamics Indices and also Training of Industrial Trainees from Universities and Colleges of Agriculture/Polytechnics on Applied Entomology. Over the years some insecticides had been screened and approved or disapproved while some are currently under screening.  Approved ones include: Actara WG, Proteus EC, Esiom EC – Cocoa farms, Actellic EC (on stored cocoa beans); Cymbush EC and Decis EC – Kola farms, Spindor Dust (on stored kolanuts). Unapproved Insecticides include: Avestrin, Pyrinex, Cocoastar, Capsida

The Section had worked extensively on bioecology of some major insect pests of the Institute’s Mandate Crops which include:

Cocoa – Sarlhbergella singularis, Bathycoelia thalassina, Distantiella theobromae (Myrid), Anomis leona, Macrotermes bellicosus, Psyllids spp,  Zonocerus spp, Euphestia cautella, Corcyra cephalonica, Araecerus fasculatus, Conopomorpha cramerella,

Cola – Balanogastris kolae, Sophorhinus gbanjaensis, Ceratitis kolae, Anomis leona Macrotermes spp, Zonocerus spp etc

Coffee – Cephanoides hylas, Epicampoptera glauca, Hypothenemus hapei (Coffee berry borer) Macrotermes spp, Zonocerus variegatus, Araecerus fasculatus

Cashew – Analeptes trifasciata, Zoegraphus regalis, Pachnoda chordata, Helopeltis schoutideni Macrotermes spp, Zonocerus spp, Pseudotheraptus devastans

Tea – Aspervia armigera, Macrotermes natalensis, Zonocerus spp

In furtherance, IPM, Use of Pheromones in Insect Management, Flora-Fauna-Interactions, Use of Entomopathogenic Organisms in Insect Mgt., Use of Insect Genetic Cascades and Use of Bioactive Plant Extracts in Insect Mgt. are the focus of the Section in the recent times and future.

The Section is blessed with competent and dedicated members of staff and this includes:

8 Research Fellows, 2 Laboratory Technologists, 1 Agricultural Superintendent/Field Officer and 1 Administrative Officer.

List of Scientists in Entomology Section