Control of Pod-sucking bug Riptortus dentipes (Hemiptera: Alydidae) of Cowpea with aqueous Plant Extracts and Cymbush Super EC in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

The cylindrical pod-sucking bug (Riptortus dentipes F.) is one of the dominant species of sap-sucking post-flowering insect pests (PFPs) in the Nigerian Savanna zone causing high yield losses by causing seed deformation, premature pod drying, seed abortion and pod shriveling.  The present study assess the effects of neem seed oil (NSO), bitter melon (Momordica balsamina) and garlic (Allium sp) aqueous extracts and cymbush super EC for the control of this insect pest of cowpea in the Nigerian savanna zone.  Field trials were carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria in 2010 and 2011 wet seasons.  Five treatments were each replicated four times in a randomized complete block design.  Neem seed oil and garlic extracts significantly reduced the population of Riptortus dentipes on cowpea pods than bitter melon during the two wet seasons.  Neem seed oil and garlic produced significantly higher undamaged pods, higher pod weights and higher grain weight in both years than bitter melon treated plots.  Cymbush super (a combination of cypermethrin 30g + dimethoote 250g) insecticide produced the highest and best undamaged pods pod weights and grain yield in both seasons.

Keywords: Plant extracts, Riptortus, dentipes, cymbush super EC, threshed, unthreshed, Savanna zone