Field efficacy of insecticides and mixture against spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius on Cowpea

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the relative efficacy of nine insecticides against spotted pod borer, Maruca vitrata infesting cowpea. The results revealed that spinosad was found to be the most effective treatment caused highest mortality (68 to 71%) of M. vitrata over control, followed by lambda-cyhalothrin and prophenofos which caused 63 to 70% and 60 to 64% mortality over control, respectively. The lowest pod damage (7.0%) and the highest grain yield (9.83 q/ha) was also recorded in the plots treated with spinosad. Thus, two sprays of spinosad or lambdacyhalothrin or prophenofos, first at the time of 50% flowering and second at 25 days after first spray can be recommended to the farmers for controlling this pest on cowpea.