Range and Occurance of Pigeonpea Pests in Central Uganda

Abstract

A study was carried out at the Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo over four cropping seasons (1990-1992) to determine the range of pests attacking pigeonpeas ( Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp.) in Uganda, and to assess their status depending on occurrence and nature of damage. Of the species identified, there were seven lepidopterans, two homopterans, three heteropterans and coleopterans, each, and one dipteran, hymenopteran, isopteran and thysonopteran insects and jassids (Homoptera), cowbugs (Heteroptera), leaf Webbers and defoliators (Lepidoptera), leaf beetles (Coleoptera) and grasshoppers (Orthoptera). Seven identified species were new records on the crop in the country. The most commonly occurring species were Aphis craccivora (Koch), Helicoverpa armigera (Hub), Maruca testulalis (Geyer), Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke), Melanogromyza chalcosoma Spencer, Tanaostigmodes cajaninae LaSalle and Clavigralla sp