Multifunctional coreid bug pheromones for efficient bioprotection against legume pests and enhanced food productivity

Abstract Background In Africa, food legumes such as cowpeas and beans constitute important sources of proteins for millions of rural and urban populations. However, attacks by multiple pest species can reduce yields by up to 80%. Small-holder farmers protect their crops against pests using conventional insecticides, thereby contributing to insecticide resistance and jeopardizing food safety. To date, no alternative sustainable practices are available to reduce insecticide use in the management of legume pests. This study aimed to provide a sustainable alternative to insecticide use based on semiochemicals to manage multiple legume pest species and enhance food productivity. Results Using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and coupled GC-electroantennographic detection (EAD) analyses, we identified 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate as the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the legume pest, Clavigralla elongata, a coreid bug species specific to East Africa. In multi-site field trials conducted in West Africa and East Africa, 2-methylbutyl 2-methylbutanoate and its analogue, isopentyl butanoate, previously identified from the pan-tropical coreid bug, C. tomentosicollis, both lured multiple legume insect pest species including from the Clavigralla genus, the legume pod-borer Maruca vitrata, flower thrips Megalurothrips sjostedti, and whitefly Bemisia tabaci into traps. Additionally, both pheromones lured the Clavigralla natural enemy parasitoid Gryon fulviventris into traps. The whitefly was only captured in pheromone-baited traps in East Africa. Deployment of an optimized pheromone trapping system significantly reduced legume pests and increased natural enemy density by up to sixfold compared to farmer practice (insecticide-treatment) and control. Legume yields for pheromone and insecticide treatments were comparable, ~ 320–590% higher than untreated controls. Conclusion These findings establish coreid bug pheromones as effective novel multifunctional semiochemical-based tools for sustainable legume pest management and production without insecticide use. Graphical abstract