Research Article

The preponderance of pod sucking bugs of cowpea and their control using botanical and synthetic insecticides in Samaru, Nigeria

*¹Ahmed IA, ²Kutama AS, ³Salamatu AY, ⁴Aminu Y and ⁵Maryam TA

¹Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural College, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

²Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria

³First City Monument Bank, PLC Kano

⁴Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Kano State Polytechnic

⁵Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Kano State Polytechnic

*Corresponding E- mail: kutamasak@yahoo.com,tel: +2347067371893

Accepted 15 January 2014

Abstract

The preponderance and effect of extra application of synthetic insecticide, lamda-cyhalothrin and botanical, neem seed extracts to control pod sucking bugs of cowpea were investigated in 2007 and 2008, respectively at Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria. The design used was Randomized Complete Block Design. The cowpea variety used was SAMPEA-7, which was sown on 4th and 6th August in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Six treatments were used which were designated as T1, for two sprays of Landa-cyhalothrin; T2 for three sprays of Lamda-cyhalothrim, T3 for four sprays of Lamda-cyhalothrin; T4 for five sprays of neem seed extract; T5 for six sprays of neem seed extract and T6 as a control where there was no spray of either of the insecticides. The treatments were replicated four times. The parameters assessed were number of sucking bugs per square metre, percentage of different species of sucking bugs, percentage of damaged pods per plant and yield per hectare. Five pod sucking bugs were found infesting cowpea pods in the following order of preponderance; Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal. (66.3%), Halydocoris ventralis Dall. (15.7%), Mirperus jaculus Wstw. (9.0%), Riptotus dentipes Fab. (7.8%), and Anoplocnemis curvipes Fab. (1.2%). There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in the number of sucking bugs on the plots that were sprayed four times with lamda-cyhalothrin and those sprayed six neem seed extracts. There was significant yield increase in plots that had one extra spray of lamda-cyhalothrin, one extra spray of neem seed extract and two extra sprays of neem seed extract.

Keywords: synthetic insecticide, lamda-cyhalothrin, botanical, neem seed extracts, pod sucking bugs, cowpea