Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104698
Title: Insect pests of pigeonpea and ther management

Author
item Shanower, Thomas
item ROMEIS, J - ICRISAT
item MINJA, E - ICRISAT

Submitted to: Annual Review of Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Shanower, T.G., Romeis, J., Minja, E.M. 1999. Insect pests of pigeonpea and ther management. Annual Review Of Entomology. 44: 77-96 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ento.44.1.77.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) is an important crop in semi-arid tropical and subtropical farming systems, providing high quality vegetable protein, animal feed, and firewood. Insect pests feeding on flowers, pods, and seed are the most important biotic constraint affecting pigeonpea yields. This review summarizes the biology and ecology of the three most important group pof pests: flower and pod-feeding Lepidoptera, pod-sucking Hemiptera, and seed-feeding Diptera and Hymenoptera. Recent research investigating the complex interactions among pigeonpea, its key pests, and their natural enemies is also reviewed. These relationships have implications on the pes status of individual species and on possible control strategies. Pigeonpea pest management research has focused until recently on the identification and development of resistant cultivars and on chemical control. Future research must focus on environmentally sound pest management strategies tha aare compatible with the needs and limitations of pigeonpea farmers. Sever priority areas for research are suggested.