Category Archives: Pigeon Pea Pests

Credits: Biovision-Infonet Leafhoppers or Jassids Cowpea Seed Beetle Root-knot Nematodes Red Spider Mites Thrips Aphids Bugs Pod Borers Pod Fly Pod weevil Blister Beetles Whiteflies Termites Cutworms

(Coryna spp. and Mylabris spp.) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Adults feed on the flowers and reduce the number of pods that are set. In location where pigeon pea is grown over large areas blister beetles cause little damage. However, in small pigeon pea plots that are in the flowering stage during the period of peak adult activity, […]

(Apion clavipes) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It has been regarded as a major pest of pigeon pea in East Africa. Adults are small black weevils. The larvae are creamy white. Larvae damage the green seeds in pods but the damage is usually noticed only after adults emerge cutting the way out of the pod. The beetles also […]

(Melanagromyza chalcosoma) Credits: Biovision-Infonet It is a small black fly that lays eggs through the walls of developing pods. The maggots (white in colour and about 3 mm long) feed inside the green seed. The brown barrel shaped pupa is formed inside the pod but outside the seed. There are no obvious external symptoms of […]

(Helicoverpa armigera), (Maruca vitrata = testulalis) ,(Etiella zinckenella) Credits: Biovision-Infonet The African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata = testulalis) the lima bean pod borer (Etiella zinckenella) are major pests of pigeon peas in East Africa. They feed on leaves, flowers and pods, destroying them. The African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) Caterpillars are […]

(Anoplocnemis spp), (Clavigralla spp) , (Riptortus spp), (Nezara viridula). Credits: Biovision-Infonet Pod sucking bugs are primary pests of pigeon peas. The most common pod-sucking bugs are: giant coreid bugs (Anoplocnemis spp), spiny brown bugs (Clavigralla spp), Riptortus bugs (Riptortus spp) and green stink bugs (Nezara viridula). These bugs suck developing seeds through the pod wall. […]

(Aphis craccivora) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Several species of aphids have been reported feeding on pigeon pea. The black legume aphid (Aphis craccivora) is the most common. What to do: Aphids seldom are a problem on pigeon pea, probably due to the effect of natural enemies.

(Megalurothrips spp. and Frankliniella schultzei) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Thrips are small (1.5 mm long), slender, brown insects with pale yellow hind wings that appear as a yellow line down the back of the body when the insect is at rest. Adult thrips have characteristic wings; the transparent wings have a fringe of hairs around the outside […]

(Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica) Credits: Biovision-Infonet Affected plants are normally stunted and eventually wilt and die. The most characteristic symptom is formation of root galls (knots) and these can be seen with the naked eye. Affected roots rot. What to do: Plant resistant varieties / lines, if available. Plant in fields with no previous record […]

Credits: Biovision-Infonet They are the most common and widespread insect pests in storage. Adults are 2-3.5 mm long. They attack both pods in the field and seeds in storage. They attack nearly mature and dried pods. Infested stored seeds can be recognised by the round exit holes and the white eggs on the seed surface. […]