Bio-efficacy of entomopathogens on major sucking pests in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the bio-efficacy of entomopathogens on cowpea sucking pests viz., Aphis craccivora and Riptortus pedestris. Fusarium pallidoroseum and Serratia marcescens proved very effective entomopathogen against A. craccivora and R. pedestris respectively showing consistently higher mortality with increase in exposure time. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were found to be moderately effective. All the entomopathogens tested found be promising in controlling these sucking pests.