Pest Density Research Articles

Arthropod Pests of Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia, Nakai) in Central Horticulture Centre, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Arthropod pests cause serious threats to pear orchards, resulting heavy reduction in their yield. The present study focused on the arthropod pests of Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia, Nakai), in the Pear orchard of Central Horticulture Centre, Kirtipur, Kathmandu. It was carried out in two seasons: Spring and Summer of 2012. The pests were collected through different methods such as hand picking, knock down process, beating process, sweeping and use of aspirator, depending upon the size of pests. The statistical analyses were performed at 95% confidence level in R-Software (R-Console version2.15.2).
 Altogether, 12 species of pests belonging to 11 families were observed during the study. The results showed that the pest's population was independent to months (X^2=7.663, df=5, P+0.175), seasons (X^2=0.188, df=1, P+0.664), and sites (F=0.446, df=2, P=0.652), however, population density of pests was higher in June (409) and summer (966). Spider mite (Tetranychus spp.), Aphids (Aphis spp.), Thrips (Scirtothrips spp.) Tortoise beetle (Metrona spp.) and Fruitfly (Dacus spp.) were the common pest species and the most dominant one was the Spider mite (Tetranychus spp.), occurring almost in all months, seasons and sites. The overall diversity index of pear pests was high, i.e, 0.800, however regarding individual species diversity index and dominance index, Spider mite (Tetranuchus spp.) had higher diversity indices, followed by Tortoise beetle (Metriona spp.), Fruit fly (Dacus spp.) and the least was observed in Click Beetle (Agriotes spp.). Although the pest population is independent to months and seasons, the present study showed that pear plants were more affected by pests during hot and warm season.

A Keystone Ant Species Provides Robust Biological Control of the Coffee Berry Borer Under Varying Pest Densities.

Species’ functional traits are an important part of the ecological complexity that determines the provisioning of ecosystem services. In biological pest control, predator response to pest density variation is a dynamic trait that impacts the provision of this service in agroecosystems. When pest populations fluctuate, farmers relying on biocontrol services need to know how natural enemies respond to these changes. Here we test the effect of variation in coffee berry borer (CBB) density on the biocontrol efficiency of a keystone ant species (Azteca sericeasur) in a coffee agroecosystem. We performed exclosure experiments to measure the infestation rate of CBB released on coffee branches in the presence and absence of ants at four different CBB density levels. We measured infestation rate as the number of CBB bored into fruits after 24 hours, quantified biocontrol efficiency (BCE) as the proportion of infesting CBB removed by ants, and estimated functional response from ant attack rates, measured as the difference in CBB infestation between branches. Infestation rates of CBB on branches with ants were significantly lower (71%-82%) than on those without ants across all density levels. Additionally, biocontrol efficiency was generally high and did not significantly vary across pest density treatments. Furthermore, ant attack rates increased linearly with increasing CBB density, suggesting a Type I functional response. These results demonstrate that ants can provide robust biological control of CBB, despite variation in pest density, and that the response of predators to pest density variation is an important factor in the provision of biocontrol services. Considering how natural enemies respond to changes in pest densities will allow for more accurate biocontrol predictions and better-informed management of this ecosystem service in agroecosystems.

Influence of ambient weather on the incidence of major insect pests and their bioagents of soybean crop (Glycine max L. Merrill)

Investigations were carried out during Kharif , 2012 at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G.) on, the effect of different weather parameters on seasonal incidence of girdle beetle, lepidopterous caterpillars and sucking pests was observed. In this context, the peak activity of the girdle beetle was noticed during the first week of October which was associated with 31.9°C maximum temperature, 23.9°C minimum temperature, 91 per cent morning R.H., 56 per cent evening humidity, 9.2 mm rainfall and Sunshine hours 7.6 lux. The peak activity of total caterpillar pests ( S. litura, C. acuta and H. armigera ) was observed during third week of August with 30.2°C maximum temperature, 25.3°C minimumtemperature, morning and evening R.H. 90per cent and 78 per cent, a rainfall of 33.2 mm, respectively and sunshine hours 3.5 lux. The peak density of total sucking pests was observed during third week of August which was associated with 28.8°C maximum temperature, 24.8°C minimum temperature, morning and evening R.H. 93 per cent and 79 per cent, rainfall 106.8 mm, respectively, and sunshine hours 1.3 lux. The correlation coefficient between the predatory population and different weather parameters viz. , maximum and minimum temperatures, morning and evening R.H., rainfall and sunshine hours was worked out and found to be nonsignificant.

Apparent competition between major pests reduces pest population densities on tomato crop, but not yield loss

Increased pest control by generalist predators has been successfully achieved in several cases by promoting apparent competition, which is the reciprocal negative interactions between prey mediated by their shared predator. However, the presence of alternative prey does not always result in an improved control of the target pest species, due to the complexity and specificity of biotic interactions. To increase the effectiveness of IPM programs, a fine understanding of the interactions among co-occurring pest species and their biocontrol agents is necessary. We tested the occurrence of apparent competition between the major tomato pests Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci when preyed on by a generalist mirid bug Macrolophus pygmaeus, by monitoring pest and predator population dynamics in a greenhouse experiment. We also measured the cascading effect of the shared predator on plant and fruit damage due to pests. We observed higher predator population growth and reduced population densities of both prey in treatments with two prey, as compared to treatments with one prey, showing that apparent competition occurred. Plant and fruit damage caused by B. tabaci was reduced in the presence of T. absoluta, but damage due to T. absoluta, which accounted for the major part, was not reduced in the presence of B. tabaci, resulting in similar levels of total damage when pests co-occurred. This study demonstrates that, even if promoting apparent competition leads to actual reduction in pest densities, yield loss may not be reduced when this strategy is applied to major pests such as T. absoluta.

Factors Influencing Capture of Invasive Sea Lamprey in Traps Baited With a Synthesized Sex Pheromone Component.

The sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, is emerging as a model organism for understanding how pheromones can be used for manipulating vertebrate behavior in an integrated pest management program. In a previous study, a synthetic sex pheromone component 7α,12α, 24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate (3kPZS) was applied to sea lamprey traps in eight streams at a final in-stream concentration of 10(-12) M. Application of 3kPZS increased sea lamprey catch, but where and when 3kPZS had the greatest impact was not determined. Here, by applying 3kPZS to additional streams, we determined that overall increases in yearly exploitation rate (proportion of sea lampreys that were marked, released, and subsequently recaptured) were highest (20-40%) in wide streams (~40 m) with low adult sea lamprey abundance (<1000). Wide streams with low adult abundance may be representative of low-attraction systems for adult sea lamprey and, in the absence of other attractants (larval odor, sex pheromone), sea lamprey may have been more responsive to a partial sex pheromone blend emitted from traps. Furthermore, we found that the largest and most consistent responses to 3kPZS were during nights early in the trapping season, when water temperatures were increasing. This may have occurred because, during periods of increasing water temperatures, sea lamprey become more active and males at large may not have begun to release sex pheromone. In general, our results are consistent with those for pheromones of invertebrates, which are most effective when pest density is low and when pheromone competition is low.

Seasonal phenology of Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in protected and open-field crops under Mediterranean climatic conditions

The population structure and dynamics of the tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta were investigated in a protected tomato crop and on potato and tomato crops and Solanum nigrum plants under open-field Mediterranean climatic conditions (Sardinia) by captures in pheromone-baited traps and visual inspection of host plants. In the greenhouse crop, male captures and leaf infestation were low in winter and increased steadily in spring up to 797.3 males/trap/week and 6.4 mines/leaf, respectively. Under open-field conditions, males were captured all year round with a peak in early September, concurrently with highest mean daily temperatures. Pest density in potato crops was very low (<0.3 mines/leaf), as well as on S. nigrum (0.16 mines/leaf). Conversely, high pest infestation was observed in tomato leaves (3.8 mines/leaf) and fruits (27% damaged fruits). Eggs, larvae and adults were detected over two consecutive winters, indicating that T. absoluta can develop continuously over the year under natural conditions. Parasitoids were recorded throughout the survey at low rates (≤16.1%). The most active beneficials were Necremnus tutae and Neochrysocharis formosa in protected and open-field crops, respectively. The tomato leafminer completed 6 generations in the greenhouse tomato crop during the winter-spring growing season, whereas in open-field crops the pest completed two generations on winter potato and 4-5 in spring-summer tomato. The degree-day model based on minimum and maximum temperatures reliably described the population dynamics in the protected crop, and estimated the completion of 7.4 generations per year under open-field Mediterranean conditions.

Ants in citrus: impact on the abundance, species richness, diversity and community structure of predators and parasitoids

Ants can act as plant biotic defenses, however, in agricultural ecosystems they are often associated with outbreaks of honeydew-producing pests mainly due to the protection they offer to the plant feeders in exchange for honeydew. In this interaction ants may alter the abundance, diversity and community structure of predators and parasitoids. In the present study, we conducted ant-exclusion experiments in three commercial citrus orchards, each one dominated by one ant species (Pheidole pallidula, Lasius grandis or Linepithema humile) during two consecutive years. We then compared the abundance, species richness, diversity and community structure of predators and parasitoids between the ant-allowed and ant-excluded treatments. A total of 176,074 natural enemies belonging to 81 taxa were captured and identified. The abundance of the natural enemies showed a species specific response between treatments. When examining functional groups of natural enemies the abundance of generalist predators decreased while that of parasitoids increased in the ant-allowed treatment. The species richness was significantly lower for predators and higher for parasitoids in the ant-allowed treatment. The Shannon diversity index was not different between treatments for predators, whereas parasitoid diversity was significantly higher in the ant-allowed treatment. Finally, the community structure of predators and parasitoids was not significantly different between treatments. These results suggest that ants in citrus are not associated with a dramatic decrease in natural enemy abundance or biodiversity; on the contrary ants were associated with increased parasitoid species richness and diversity. On the other hand, ants negatively affected the abundance of specific natural enemy species, mainly generalist predators. The impact on these predators might explain the higher pest densities associated with ants in citrus.

Economic Analysis for Commingling Effects of Insect Activity in the Elevator Boot Area.

Boot areas in commercial grain elevators and feed mills contribute to commingling of insects with grain that moves through the elevator leg. A partial budget and stochastic dominance model were developed to improve pest management decision-making and risk analysis assessment from commingling effects of insect activity in the boot area. Modified pilot-scale bucket elevator legs, containing residual wheat or corn, were infested with varying insect pest densities prior to clean grain transfers. Appropriate grain discounts were applied to grain samples obtained from clean grain transfers over either: 1) insect-free and untreated boots, 2) infested and untreated boots, or 3) infested and chemical-treated (β-cyfluthrin) boots. The insect-free boots simulated performing clean-out of the boot area. Partial budget analysis and stochastic dominance modeling indicated that boot sanitation (cleanout) about every 30 d, avoiding costly grain discounts from insect commingling, is the preferred choice. Although chemical spray treatments of the empty boot may reduce insect populations of some boot residual grains, boot cleanout always had lower and usually zero insect pest populations in the boot residual grain, providing higher facility operational net income without the use of chemicals.

Some lights repel amphibians: implications for improving trap lures for invasive species

Traps with baits or other lures are often used to reduce densities of vertebrate pests. Invasive amphibians often feed on insects at lights in urban settings, but it is unclear whether they are attracted to the light itself, the insect food source (which is attracted to the light), or both. Here we examine the attractiveness of four types of lights (incandescent, white fluorescent, yellow fluorescent and ultraviolet) to cane toads (Rhinella marina) in controlled Y-maze experiments, in the absence of insects. In the Y-maze, more cane toads selected darkness over incandescent and white fluorescent lights, indicating these light types repelled toads. In comparison, toads did not distinguish between ultraviolet or yellow fluorescent lights and darkness. We then used field trapping trials to determine the effectiveness of white fluorescent and ultraviolet light for attracting amphibians to traps in the presence of insects. In the field, traps equipped with ultraviolet light trapped significantly more toads than those with white fluorescent lights. Our research indicates that trapping success for amphibians can be significantly improved by using ultraviolet lights as insect attractants. Traps equipped with these lights could help reduce the impact of invasive cane toads, and possibly other invasive amphibians.

Ecological and biocenotic regularities of the spatial distribution of phytophages and entomophages in agroecosystems as the basis of non-pesticide protection of winter wheat against pests: Agro-biotechnological techniques for organic farming

Spatial and temporal distributions of the densities of phytophages and their enemies in cereal agrobiocenoses were studied at the biocenotic level. Foci of increased pest densities were revealed. The total injury to the crops was estimated, specifying the role of each pest species in crop loss. Phytosanitary agro-ecological and agrobiotechnological prevention and control measures are proposed that minimize crop loss and ensure high quality of food crops without toxic effect on the environment.

Natural vegetation benefits synergistic control of the three main insect and pathogen pests of a fruit crop in southern Africa

Most studies of the potential for natural habitat to improve agricultural productivity have been conducted in transformed, temperate regions, but little is known of the importance of agroecosystem services in biodiverse developing countries. Natural vegetation may promote the density and/or diversity of natural enemies of crop pests, but the strength of the effect varies, and few studies directly measure concurrent impacts on pest density. Considering multiple pest species within the same agroecosystem may help explain why some pests are more affected than others by landscape complexity. Here, we investigated multiple pest species (three species of Tephritidae fruit fly, leaf galling flies and pathogenic fungi Fusarium spp.) and their enemies in cultivated mango Mangifera indica, in north-eastern South Africa. The density of generalist Tephritidae fruit flies increased with distance from natural vegetation during harvesting months, and predation rate of pupae sharply decreased from ~50% at the edge with natural vegetation to 0% at 250 m into the crop. Parasitism rates of the cryptic, gall-forming fly increased with proximity to natural vegetation, but pest density was unrelated to distance from natural vegetation. Incidence of the fungal pathogen disease increased with distance from natural vegetation, possibly due to decreased predation of commensal mites. Although the relationship with distance to natural vegetation was significant for all species considered, the strength of this relationship varied across pest species and type of natural enemy studied, suggesting the benefits of natural vegetation depend on each natural enemy species' ability to disperse into the agricultural environment. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that natural vegetation is a net source of natural enemies in a region of South Africa that still contains much of its natural biodiversity. However, the decline in natural enemies, and increase in pests, with distance from natural habitat indicates that this biocontrol is limited by natural enemy dispersal. In landscapes like these that are still dominated by natural habitat, conservation biocontrol can still be improved by management aimed at providing corridors of key plants and habitat elements into the crops, to facilitate natural enemy dispersal.

Temporal change in vegetation productivity in grain production landscapes: linking landscape complexity with pest and natural enemy communities

1. Strategies to enhance the ecosystem service of pest control in agricultural landscapes often rely on manipulating the structure of the landscape to reduce pest population build‐up or facilitate natural enemy activity. For highly mobile and polyphagous invertebrate pest species the agricultural landscape represents a continually changing mosaic of resources and habitats that at certain points in time may be conducive to high population productivity and therefore pest outbreaks. Deciding which features of the landscape we need to measure and monitor to understand this process is the first step in developing intervention strategies. Previous studies have focused on static measures of landscape composition and have generally ignored landscape configuration and change across time.2. In this study we sampled invertebrate pests and predatory natural enemies repeatedly over two years from crop, pasture and semi‐natural habitats (up to 36 sites per landscape) in multiple agricultural landscapes (14km diameter circles) across Australia's grain production regions. The temporal pattern in vegetation productivity was quantified (using remote‐sensed Normalized Differential Vegetation Index) at the landscape‐scale and related to the pest and natural enemy density data.3. Metrics derived from the vegetation show variation across time and highlight transition points in the landscape that might represent important shifts in resources for higher trophic levels. The landscape metrics that were related to pest density were different in each landscape, but generally characterized connectivity of vegetation classes (more than configuration or composition). How connected or dis‐aggregated vegetation productivity classes were appears important for pest dynamics in these landscapes.

Vineyard proximity to riparian habitat influences Western grape leafhopper (Erythroneura elegantula Osborn) populations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of vineyard proximity to riparian habitat on the biological control and population densities of the Western grape leafhopper, Erythroneura elegantula Osborn (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Natural enemy and pest populations were monitored over a two-year period at multiple vineyard sites adjacent to riparian habitat in northern California. At each site, natural enemy and pest population data were collected along a transect that extended from the riparian habitat into the vineyard. Additionally, a subset of the original research sites were further evaluated for crop vigor, pest density and parasitism rates between the vineyard edge and interior. Results from this study indicate that lower E. elegantula egg deposition and nymph abundance at the vineyard edge were primarily due to reduced crop vigor at the sampled sites and that the most likely cause for these changes were differences in microclimate and soil fertility that were found to be associated with proximity to the riparian habitat.

KETERTARIKAN HAMA Sitophilus oryzae PADA BERAS, JAGUNG PIPILAN KACANG TANAH, KACANG KEDELAI, DAN KOPRA

ABSTRACT The purpose of research is to know the preferences of Sitophilus oryzae in rice, corn, peanut, soybeans, and copra. Experiments using observational and substitutional methods with research objeck is the interest of S. oryzae in some kind of postharvest material. Parameters measured were population density of pests, feeding damage caused by pests, and the relationship between population densty of pests and postharvest material damage caused by pests feed of S. oryzae. The results showed that S. oryzae choose food according to its main host. Population density are highest at 20.8 tail in rice, corn followed by14.0 tail, 8.2 tail in peanuts, 7,0 tail in soybeans and the lowest in copra is 4.0 tail. The results of feeding test showed that S. oryzae can not live in peanut, soybeans, and copra. Damage to feed straight to the population density S.oryzae. The amount of damage depends on the amount of feed that is higher pest populations, the greater damage in flicted on feed. Key words: preferences, Sitophylusoryzae, rice, corn, peanut, peanut soya, copra

Plant composition modulates arthropod pest and predator abundance: Evidence for culling exotics and planting natives

We investigate the role of plant species in crops, pasture and native vegetation remnants in supporting agronomic pests and their predators. The study was conducted in three Australian States and across 290 sites sampled monthly for two years. Pastures played a key role in harbouring pest species consistent across States, while native vegetation hosted relatively more predators than other habitat types within each State. Furthermore, native plant species supported the lowest pest density and more predators than pests; in contrast, 75% of the exotic weed species surveyed hosted more pests than predators. Despite the role of pasture in harbouring pests, we found in NSW that pasture also supported the highest proportion of juvenile predators, while native vegetation remnants had the lowest.Our results indicate that non-crop habitat (native remnants or pasture) with few exotic weeds supports high predator and low pest arthropod densities, and that weeds are associated with high pest densities. By linking broad response variables such as ‘all pests’ with specific predictors such as ‘plant species’, our study will inform on-farm management actions of which weeds to control and which natives to plant or regenerate. This study shows the importance of knowing the function of habitats and plants species in supporting pests and predators in agricultural landscapes across multiple regions.

Wellsina Mite Hemicheyletia wellsina (De Leon) (Arachnida: Acari: Cheyletidae)

This predatory mite was recently discovered in an unsprayed greenhouse at the University of Florida, Gainesville, living on Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids, and assumed to be feeding on orchid pests such as spider mites, tenuipalpid mites, and mealybugs that were present on the orchids. Because there was no published information on this species as a natural enemy of orchid pests, colonies were initiated here to study its biology, maintained on two-spotted spider mite prey. Hemicheyletia wellsina does not appear likely to be an effective natural enemy in agricultural crops as an introduced predator, but could be beneficial in natural biological control in natural ecosystems, where pest densities are lower. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Haleigh A. Ray and Marjorie A. Hoy, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, December 2014. (Photo: Haleigh Ray, UF/IFAS) EENY609/IN1066: Wellsina Mite Hemicheyletia wellsina (De Leon) (Arachnida: Acari: Cheyletidae) (ufl.edu)

Evaluation of soil‐applied insecticides with Bt maize for managing corn rootworm larval injury

AbstractThe western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is considered one of the most significant insect pests of maize in North America. Larvae of other secondary subterranean pests such as grape colaspis, Colaspis brunnea (F.), and Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, can also injure maize seedlings and cause yield loss. In the past decade, maize hybrids containing Bt proteins have been used to manage the western corn rootworm; additionally, seeds are commonly treated with a neonicotinoid and fungicide combination to control secondary pests. Recently, soil‐applied insecticides have been used in conjunction with rootworm Bt hybrids (and seed‐applied insecticides) in areas with perceived risk for increased rootworm larval or secondary pest damage. We conducted a series of trials from 2009 to 2011 that examined multiple rootworm Bt hybrids and their near‐isolines, along with two soil‐applied insecticides, to determine whether the Bt plus insecticide combination resulted in an increased level of efficacy or yield. We also sampled for Japanese beetle and grape colaspis larvae to determine their potential for reducing yield. Densities of secondary pests in our trials were low and likely had no effect on maize yield. The addition of a soil‐applied insecticide to rootworm Bt hybrids improved efficacy only once across 17 location‐years, when overall corn rootworm injury was highest; an improvement in yield was never observed. Our results suggest that the use of a soil‐applied insecticide with a rootworm Bt hybrid should only be considered in scenarios with potentially significant rootworm larval populations. However, potential negative consequences related to trait durability when soil insecticides are used with rootworm Bt maize should be considered.

Optimising the application of multiple-capture traps for invasive species management using spatial simulation.

Internationally, invasive vertebrate species pose a significant threat to biodiversity, agricultural production and human health. To manage these species a wide range of tools, including traps, are used. In New Zealand, brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), stoats (Mustela ermine), and ship rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive and there is an ongoing demand for cost-effective non-toxic methods for controlling these pests. Recently, traps with multiple-capture capability have been developed which, because they do not require regular operator-checking, are purported to be more cost-effective than traditional single-capture traps. However, when pest populations are being maintained at low densities (as is typical of orchestrated pest management programmes) it remains uncertain if it is more cost-effective to use fewer multiple-capture traps or more single-capture traps. To address this uncertainty, we used an individual-based spatially explicit modelling approach to determine the likely maximum animal-captures per trap, given stated pest densities and defined times traps are left between checks. In the simulation, single- or multiple-capture traps were spaced according to best practice pest-control guidelines. For possums with maintenance densities set at the lowest level (i.e. 0.5/ha), 98% of all simulated possums were captured with only a single capacity trap set at each site. When possum density was increased to moderate levels of 3/ha, having a capacity of three captures per trap caught 97% of all simulated possums. Results were similar for stoats, although only two potential captures per site were sufficient to capture 99% of simulated stoats. For rats, which were simulated at their typically higher densities, even a six-capture capacity per trap site only resulted in 80% kill. Depending on target species, prevailing density and extent of immigration, the most cost-effective strategy for pest control in New Zealand might be to deploy several single-capture traps rather than investing in fewer, but more expense, multiple-capture traps.

Indigenous generalist predators and plant residues: conservation biological control of pests in an organically managed cabbage field

Plant residues are viewed as an important source for organic matter in farmlands. We studied if wheat straw and weed residues applied to an organically managed cabbage field by favoring alternative prey may improve the suppression of lepidopteran pests by indigenous generalist predators. The trophic characteristics of predators were determined by a stable isotope approach (δ13C and δ15N). The relative contribution of alternative prey in predators species' (i.e. wolf spiders) diet was estimated using a mixed model based on their stable isotope signatures. As expected, densities of alternative prey became significantly higher in the plots with added plant residues. Consequently, population densities of predators (wolf spiders, predacious carabids and Japanese tree frogs) also became relatively higher and pest densities lower in these plots. We also note that, besides lepidopteran pests, alternative prey accounted for approximately 80% of predator diets. This finding suggests that they may play an important role in population persistence of generalist predators. The application of organic matter to the field for the enhancement of natural enemies’ impacts through increased alternative preys, which might be useful to manage lepidopteran pests in organic cultivation of cabbage.

Susceptibility of Sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) to Major Field Insect Pests as Influenced by Insecticide Application in a Sub-Humid Environment

Eighteen sesame varieties were tested in the field for their responses to major insect pests with or without insecticide application. Insect pest density was higher in the unsprayed plots than the sprayed plots, except Myzus persicae whose density was significantly higher in the sprayed plots. Lower insect density was recorded on Yobe-Chambamba, while higher pest density was recorded on Domu, in late season. Yobe-Chambamba and Eva were not attacked by M. persicae. Leaf and capsule damage were significantly lower (2 % each) on Yobe-Chambamba.Amongthe varieties,Yobe-Chambambacarried the least pest population intensity, while highest pest density was recorded on Domu, NCRIBEN-01M, Yobe-gadaka, 530-6-1, Cross-95, E-8, PB-Til, Ciano-16 and Cameroun white. Lambda-cyhalothrin application significantly reduced pest density in the early season but not capsule damage or any of the plant characteristics measured. The use of lambda-cyhalothrin may not be necessary for the control of insect pests on sesame in the expe...