Monthly Archives: February 2020

Credits: Biovision-Infonet Legume Aphid African Bollworm Flower or Blister Beetles Thrips Bugs Legume Pod Borer Cowpea Weevils Root-knot Nematodes

Credits: Biovision-Infonet The pod weevil (Piezotrachelus varius or Apion varium). Its a common pest of cowpeas in West Africa. Generally 13-26% of the pods are damaged. Losses of seeds up to 92% have been reported in Nigeria. The shiny black weevils bore holes in fresh green cowpea pods and lay eggs into the pods. The […]

(Callosobruchus spp.) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Adults are 2.0-3.5 mm long. They are also known as the cowpea seed beetles and are the principal storage pest of cowpea. These bruchids may infest up to 100% of the stored seeds within 3 to 6 months under ordinary storage conditions. A positive relationship between pod damage by field pest […]

(Maruca vitrata) Credits: Biovision-Infonet This is the most important pod borer pest, causing severe damage to cowpeas. Losses over 80% have been reported on indigenous varieties and even on high yielding varieties. Moths usually lay eggs on flower buds, flowers, or on terminal shoots of young plants. Young caterpillars may feed on any part of […]

Credits: Biovision-Infonet There are several pod sucking bugs. The tip wilter (Anoplocnemis curvipes), the spiny brown bug (Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Riptortus bugs (Riptortus dentipes), Mirperus jaculus, the green stink bug (Nezara viridula) and Aspavia sp. These bugs attack cowpeas in Africa. The spiny brown bug Clavigralla tomentosicollis and Riptortus dentipes are the most important, causing serious […]

(Megalurothrips sjostedti and Frankliniella schultzei) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Thrips are among the most widespread and important pests of cowpeas in Africa. The cowpea flower thrips or African bean flower thrips (Megalurothrips sjostedti) causes yield losses of up to 100%. During the pre-flowering period, nymphs and adults of this thrips may damage the terminal buds. However, the […]

(Aphis craccivora) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It is a widespread pest of cowpeas. Aphids suck sap on stems, terminal shoots and petioles of seedlings, and on pods and flowers of mature plants. A heavy attack can cause death of young seedlings, stunting and delay in flowering on older plants. However, it is more important as vector of […]