Identification, damage assessment and control of pest of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.)) Millisp

Pest identification and assessment of their damage on pigeon pea as well as their control under Camarines Sur [Philippines] condition was carried out from Oct 2011 to November 2013. Forty seven insects, 2 arachnids, 2 diseases and 18 weed species were found associated with pigeon pea from planting to maturity. Among the insects, six species are beneficial insects, two are saprophagous feeders, one pollination and one transient or non-pest, while 35 species are insect pests. Major pest were the pod fly, pod borer, shield bug, bean weevil and long-horned beetle. Other insects were noted but of minor importance and damage to the pigeon pea. For the natural enemies of pests, two species are spiders and five insects are predators while only one is parasitoid. Fusarium wilt and Cercospora leaf spot were the diseases on pigeon pea. Weed species were more diverse in Pawili followed by Pamplona, and least abundant at Pili, controlled by hand weeding. Tussock moth was noted at Pawili during the early vegetative and reproductive stages while shield bug was noted at Pamplona. Diversity of insects was highest at Pawili followed by Pili and least at Pamplona. Pod borer damage on region per varieties ICPL 7035 and ICPL 88039 increased during months 1 to 3, lower damage in Pawili (20%) than in Pamplona (24%). Pod fly borer damage was greater on ICPL 7035 than on ICPL 88039 which was consistent all year round. Pod borer damage was greater on ICPL 7035 than on ICPL 88039. Both varieties are considered resistant to leaf feeding and sucking insects. Pegion pea seeds stored in plastic bottle, paper bag and Ziploc polyethylene plastic bag showed differences in insect population and percentage damage grains. Bean weevil population was highest after storing for 3 months. Seeds sprayed with Chromolaena extract were comparable with those treated with cypermethrin when stored in different packaging materials for a period of three months. Significant efficacy differences among insecticides were observed in terms of percentage mortality of the shield bugs that is, insecticide neem = control langkawas after 24 and 48 hours, while insecticide neem langkawas control after 72 hours. Under field condition, all the six insecticides used to control the major insect pests of pigeon did not differ significantly.