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Prospects for cultural and biological control of cowpea pests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

M. I. Ezueh
M. I. Ezueh
Affiliation:
Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nsukka
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Abstract

Insect pest problems on cowpeas can be reduced by use of strategies which involve ecological manipulations. These include crop diversification (mixed cropping, etc.), alteration of planting dates, crop rotation, trap-cropping and weed control. The merits of these cultural methods of pest control are discussed.

The status of biological control of cowpea pests is still low but promising. The crop is an annual and therefore offers very limited possibilities for the application of the classical biological control techniques. However, a large number of parasitic Hymenoptera, Diptera and predatory Hemiptera, notably Reduviids have been identified in the cowpea ecosystem. Ecological studies of some of these have been carried out and levels of parasitism determined in a few cases, but their significance in the dynamics of cowpea pest populations have not been fully established.

It is however known that conservation of parasites and predators in their wild environment is one of the traditional biological control methods. Therefore, a rationalized pesticide programme for the control of cowpea pests should aim at preventing hazards to their natural enemies so as to increase their biocontrol efficiency.

Résumé

Les problèmes que posent les insectes nuisibles aux dolique peuvent être réduits par l'application de stratégies qui entraînent des manipulations écologiques. La diversification des céréales (mise en culture mixte, etc.), le changement de dates de plantage, l'assolement, plantage de plantes nuisibles aux pestes et le contrôle de mauvaises herbes forment partie des stratégies qu'on peut employer. Les mérites de ces méthodes culturales de contrôle des insectes nuisibles sont examinées dans ce travail.

L'état actuel de contrôle biologique des pestes nuisibles qui attaquent les dolique est encore bas, mais il est promettant. Le dolique étant une céréale annuelle offre des possibilités très limitées pour l'application des techniques classiques de contrôle biologique.

Toutefois, un grande nombre de Hyménoptères parasitiques, de Diptères et de Hémiptères rapaces, notamment les Réduivides ont été identifiés dans l'écosystème du dolique. Des études écologiques de certains d'entre eux ont été faites et des niveaux de parasitisme ont été déterminés dans peu des cas, mais ieur signification dans la dynamique des populations des insectes nuisibles n'a pas été établie.

On sait, cependant, que la conservation des parasites et des ravageurs dans leur environnement sauvage est une des méthodes de contrôle biologique traditionnelle. Un programme rationalisé de pesticide pour le contrôle des pestes nuisibles au dolique doit donc avoir but la prévention des hazards augmenter l'efficacité du biocontrôle de ces insectes nuisibles.

Keywords

Controlculturalmixed croppingcrop rotationtrap-croppingweed controlplanting datestimeliness harvestingnatural enemiesparasitespredatorswild environmentrationalizationbiocontroleffectivenessContrôleculturalmise en culture mixteassolementplantage de plantes nuisibles aux pestescontrôle de mauvaises herbesdates de plantagefair la moisson à tempsennemis naturelsenvironnement inculterationalisationbiocontrôleefficacité
Type
Part I: Symposium on Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Conservation: Pest Management Strategies and Practices
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 12 , Special Issue 5-6: Aspects of Pest Management in Relation to Agricultural Production and Environmental Conservation in Africa , December 1991 , pp. 585 - 592
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1991

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