Alternate Host Range and Management of Riptortus pedestris F. Infesting Cowpea

The ornamental plant, Caesalpinnia pulcherrima and the weed, Cassia occidentalis were new reports of host plants of Riptortus pedestris. Imidacloprid 0.005% treated plants recorded significantly lower counts of R. pedestris nymphs and the highest yield, the toxic effect being on par with dimethoate 0.05%. Rapid knock down of adults and nymphs with further persistence in the field was evidently higher for fenvalerate 0.03% and lambda-cyhalothrin 0.002%. The effect of chlorpyrifos 0.03% was on par with imidacloprid 0.005% in 15^th day and malathion 0.05% in the 7^th day, in suppressing the nymphal and adult populations, respectively after first spraying. Among the botanical insecticides, crude neem oil emulsion 5 ml L⁻¹ was on par with 0.03% azadirachtin emulsion 2ml L⁻¹ in reducing the nymphal counts of R. pedestris and significantly superior in terms of yield when compared with 1% azadirachtin emulsion 2ml L⁻¹.