The 20th conference of the African Association of Insect Scientists began on Monday October 28, 2013.

Insect scientists from over 20 African countries are currently meeting in Yaounde to exchange ideas, share experience, discuss the stakes of harmful and useful insects in the African society as well as adopt new strategies in handling problems that come with invasive insects' diseases. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI), Madeleine Rebecca Etame Ebelle opened the five-day conference yesterday October 28.

Holding under the theme "Global change and impacts on insect biodiversity: integrated pest and disease vectors management in Africa", one of the participant, Dr Niassy Saliou from the

Jomo Kenyatta University in Kenya said amongst the over 3,000 insects in Africa, research has been carried on some 1,000. Given that insects play a vital role in the African community as they are a source of income, food and agricultural pollination, Dr Niassy Saliou said it is vital for insect researchers to come together and promote insect science, share knowledge with colleagues that will help tackle problems that come with insect existence such as locust swamps as well as limit insect related diseases such as sleeping sickness and malaria. Insect scientists said through discussion and research, they will be able to master the biological nature of insects that cause illness thereby knowing how to eliminate such insects.

During the workshop, participants are discussing topics such as Impact on Beneficial Insects, Peats and Vectors; Knowledge sharing and networking; Organisms and Biotechnology-genetically modified organisms and biosecurity.