Identification Of Soil Insect Pests In Rwanda And Compilation Of Their Integrated Management Options In East Africa

White grubs(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are key vegetable soil pests in many regions of Rwanda. However, neither species of white grubs associated with vegetable crops that currently causing tremendous damage/loss in Rwanda are known nor clear control methods have been put in place for soil insects‘pests thus far. Therefore, the present study anticipate to identify notorious soil insect pests in Rwanda and eventually compiling current knowledge concerning agricultural soil insect pests of crops and their integrated management throughout the regional level(East Africa). On one hand, Information related to their corresponding control measures were collected from relevant specialized research institutions, relevant journals/books and through communication with local experts. The ratification to the international agreements on pesticides was also verified. On another hand, throughout the cropping seasons of 2014 and 2015; adult soil insect pests were monitored with light traps in three different agro-ecological zones. Meanwhile, larvae of soil insect pests were also collected via soil excavation in various vegetable crops. The cytochrome C oxidase I(COI) gene from adults and larvae were amplified using polymerase chain reaction(PCR), sequenced, and used to compare larval DNA against DNA from previously morphologically identified adults using MEGA 6 and GMYC softwares. In overall, 42 species were collected and out of these 37 species were identified as scarab beetles. The peak flight periods for Anomala graueri species occurred from August to October, but some of the insects were captured as early as mid-March, together with Hoplochelus sp. Melolonthini sp. and Trochalus sp..Literature search‘s result come up with banana weevil, sweet potato weevil, bean maggots, cutworms, termites and white grubs as by far the most notorious soil insect pests threatening the production of major crops in East Africa. The major control options include(1) legislative measures,(2) cultural practices,(3) physical/mechanical practices,(4) genetic methods,(5) biological control, and(6) chemical control. It was also noted that all considered countries have ratified the international agreements on pesticides, namely, the Rotterdam, Stockholm and Basel Conventions and the Montreal Protocol, and also follow the WHO classification of pesticides for registrationThe results obtained in this study validate the use of COI gene to associate the larvae of some species of scarab beetles with the adults. The identified results will help in documenting new soil insect pest species as a starting point for subsequent studies and for targeting the critical time for their control in Rwanda. The current knowledge on soil insect pests and their management strategies via East Africa was impressive and fascinating in a number of ways(e. g., effective and eco-friendly); however, the review also brings to light some gaps that must be bridged such as insufficient understanding of insect biology, ecology, and appropriate recommendations on application rates for a number of insecticides.