One of the most important bean-production constraints in tropical and subtropical Africa is the wide range of insect pests, which attack every part of the bean plant (from roots to pods and seeds) causing heavy losses either in the field or in storage. Losses can be up to 100 percent depending on area, season, cv., planting date, and cultural practices. Ophiomyia phaseoli, which attacks seedlings, is the most important pest. The main damage is caused by larval feeding and tunneling in stem tissue. Seedlings suffer premature leaf fall and either die or become stunted. Control is done through cultural practices, the use of insecticides, and var. resistance. Liriomyza trifolii is an important pest in Egypt and Mauritius; damage is caused by the maggot which destroys leaf's palisade tissue, making serpentine tunnels. It is controlled with insecticides and the use of resistant cv. Aphis favae and Aphis craccivora are the main aphid pests affecting common beans and cowpea. Their feeding causes leaf yellowing, destruction, yield losses, and transmit and spread BCMV. Control measures include the use of insecticides and resistant cv.Una de las mas importantes limitaciones a la produccion del frijol en Africa tropical y subtropical es el amplio rango de insectos plaga que atacan cada parte de la planta de frijol (raices, vainas, semillas) causando grandes perdidas en el campo o en almacenamiento. Las perdidas pueden ser de hasta 100 por ciento dependiendo del area, la estacion, el cv., la fecha de siembra y las practicas culturales. Ophiomyia phaseoli, que ataca las plantulas, es la plaga mas importante. El principal dano es causado por la alimentacion de larvas y la construccion de tuneles en el tejido del tallo. Las plantulas sufren senescencia foliar prematura y se danan o atrofian. Se controla mediante practicas culturales, uso de insecticidas y var. resistentes. Liriomyza trifolii es una plaga importante en Egipto y Mauricio; el dano es causado por la larva que destruye el tejido de empalizada de la hoja, contruyendo tuneles serpenteantes. Se controla con insecticidas y con el uso de var. resistentes. Aphis fabae y Aphis craccivora son los principales afidos que atacan al frijol comun y al caupi. Su alimentacion ocasiona amarillamiento foliar, destruccion, perdidas
