An Open Access Journal published by ICRISAT SAT eJournal  ejournal.icrisat.org - 1 - December 2010  Volume 8 Survey of insect pests on pigeonpea in Nigeria SA Dialoke 1 , CM Agu 1 *, FO Ojiako 1 , E Onweremadu 1 , GO Onyishi 1 , N Ozor 2 , BC Echezona 2 , MO Ofor 1 , II Ibeawuchi 1 , IN Chigbundu 1 , AA Ngwuta 1 and FO Ugwoke 1 1. School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Nigeria 2. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria *Corresponding author: akuamka@yahoo.com Abstract Survey of pigeonpea growing areas in Nigeria comprising Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Kogi and Benue states was carried out in February 2007 and repeated in February 2008 basically to establish pest incidence and level of damage caused by insect pests in farmers’ fields. Questionnaires and discussions with agriculturists from state agricultural extension agencies, universities, staff of Ministries of Agriculture and farmers were carried out. From 103 sample sites, 100 pigeonpea pods were selected at random and analyzed for percentage pod damage by pod borers and pod sucking bugs. The cropping systems in which pigeonpea was growing were noted and percentage seed losses due to pests from each system were analyzed and recorded. From the results, major insect pests encountered during the field visits were: foliage beetles, ants, termites, flower pests [thrips (Megalurothrips usitatus) and blister beetle (Mylabris pustulata)], pod borers (Helicoverpa armigera, Maruca testulalis, Etiella zinckenella), pod sucking bugs (Anoplocnemis curvipes, Riptortus dentipes, Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Nezara viridula), aphids (Aphis craccivora), and leaf damaging weevils (Myllocerus undecimpustulatus). Results also revealed that mean damage by pod sucking bugs was highest in Imo (78%), Kogi (73%) and Benue states (71%) and least in Enugu state (44%) than the damage by pod borers in all the states visited. Among the cropping systems observed in the areas, pigeonpea/maize intercrop recorded greater damage by pod borers than pod sucking bugs while pigeonpea/rice intercrop had the least damage by pod borers and pod sucking bugs followed by pigeonpea/ cocoyam intercrop. Introduction Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is usually described as a perennial legume (Purseglove 1974, Smartt 1976) but widely grown as an annual crop. India is the world’s largest producer of pigeonpea. In India, where the crop originated, there are several survey reports of quantitative estimates of losses caused by insect pests on pigeonpea from various parts of the country. Thus, surveys of pigeonpea in India conducted by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in 1975 and 1981 indicated a mean pod damage of 13% in 359 fields surveyed in North India (Lateef and Reed 1983). Results from this survey revealed that lepidopteran borers, mainly Helicoverpa armigera, caused severe damage to pigeonpea in Northeast, Central and South India. After India, Kenya is the second largest producer of pigeonpea. The mineral content of pigeonpea indicates that it is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc, and is low in sodium (Duke 1981). Deshpande and Damodaran (1990) reported that the low sodium content, ability to lower serum cholesterol in humans, high fiber content, low fat content, long shelf life, high protein content and high complex carbohydrates make pigeonpea an excellent food source of both protein and energy for hypertensive people. As a consequence of outrageous increase in local prices of food (especially the price of meat, fish and eggs), grain legumes such as cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pigeonpea, chickpea (Cicer arietinum), soybean (Glycine max) and other pulses are enjoying resurgence in interest and enhanced level of consumption. There is no temporary or seasonal resurgence because of food shortage and high prices in Africa. Citation: Dialoke SA, Agu CM, Ojiako FO, Onweremadu E, Onyishi GO, Ozor N, Echezona BC, Ofor MO, Ibeawuchi II, Chigbundu IN, Ngwuta AA and Ugwoke FO. 2010. Survey of insect pests on pigeonpea in Nigeria. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research 8.