By Dongmo, Jiomeneck Barthelemy
Ten cow'pea varieties were screened under field natural infestations for their .
relative susceptibilities against attack and damage by the flower bud thrips,
(Me~alurothri~s siostedti Tryb.) based on their agrobotanical characteristics. The thrips
were observed on the plants at the onset of flowering. Application of Karate insecticide
at the rate of 30 m1110 litres of water significantly (P = 0.01) decrdsed thrips
population in the sprayed plots. ,, '
Cowpea susceptibility to M.siostedti was greatly influenced by time of planting,
the lowest population occurring on crops planted in June, while- the highest population
was recorded on August crops.
The effect of insecticide regimes significantly (P = 0.01) improved pod
production per plant and increased grain yields by almost 53 per cent over unsprayed . \. plots, while planting in August compared to June resulted in higher grain yields