The horticulture industry in Benin is under threat due to fruit fly infestation on important crops such as cucurbits and mango. Given the economic losses due to fruit fly infestations, population dynamics of fruit flies on these crops were monitored over 6 years (2004–2010) using three parapheromones—cuelure, methyl eugenol and terpinyl acetate. A total of 2,714,186 specimens belonging to 14 species in four genera (Bactrocera, Ceratitis, Dacus and Zeugodacus) were collected. Bactrocera dorsalis was the dominant species that accounted for 89%, 89.6% and 77.2% of captures in the Forest Savannah Mosaic (FSM), Southern Guinea Savannah (SGS) and Northern Guinea Savannah (NGS) agro-ecosystems, respectively. Shannon index values of species diversity differed significantly among agro-ecosystems, with highest diversity in FSM followed by SGS and NGS. Temperature, rainfall and relative humidity (RH) positively influenced the abundance of Dacus species and Zeugodacus cucurbitae across the three agro-ecosystems. Monthly mean temperatures were in a range suitable for development and reproduction of fruit flies, although minimum temperatures could be below such range, which may explain the lower abundance of fruit fly populations during this period of the year. The abundance of B. dorsalis was negatively correlated with maximum temperature and positively correlated with RH and rainfall. Ceratitis species assemblages were significantly affected by minimum temperatures, rainfall and agro-ecosystem. Populations of B. dorsalis and Ceratitis cosyra dropped drastically in August, while those of Z. cucurbitae and Dacus punctatifrons increased sharply from August. Results of this study provide a platform for developing a comprehensive and sustainable management strategy for B. dorsalis and other fruit flies in the three agro-ecosystems to protect the horticulture industry in Benin.

SignificanceNeurodegenerative diseases are poorly understood and difficult to treat. One common hallmark is lysosomal dysfunction leading to the accumulation of aggregates and other undegradable materials, which cause damage to brain resident cells. Lysosomes are acidic organelles responsible for breaking down biomolecules and recycling their constitutive parts. In this work, we find that the antiinflammatory and neuroprotective compound, discovered via a phenotypic screen, imparts its beneficial effects by targeting the lysosome and restoring its function. This is established using a genome-wide CRISPRi target identification screen and then confirmed using a variety of lysosome-targeted studies. The resulting small molecule from this study represents a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases as well as a research tool for the study of lysosomes in disease.

Earth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is small and dark, and exhibited a very rapidly changing rotation period. Prior to the onset of activity, the period was 16.4hr. Starting in 2010 August the period changed from 16.6hr to near 19hr in December. With respect to dust composition, most volatiles and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, the comet is similar to other Jupiter-family comets. What is unusual is the dominance of CO 2 -driven activity near perihelion, which likely persists out to aphelion. Near perihelion the comet nucleus was surrounded by a large halo of water-ice grains that contributed significantly to the total water production. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..