Damage by pod‐sucking bugs on cowpea when intercropped with maize

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Abstract
Agroecosystems in the tropics include growing two or more crops in diverse polycultural patterns. In Kenya, cowpea Vigna unguiculata (Walp.) is grown in combination with cereals such as maize and sorghum, perennial legumes such as pigeon peas and root crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes. In the present investigations, field experiments were conducted to study the incidence and damage caused by Clavigralla tomentoscollis Germ, and C. shadabi after flowering, on cowpea intercropped with maize. It was evident from the present studies that C. tomentoscollis and C. shadabi were more prevalent on cowpea during the first season rather than during the second season. Both species had a preference for feeding on cowpea intercropped with maize than when it was grown in pure stands. Consequently more pod damage was recorded on cowpea planted with maize. It was therefore concluded that this agricultural system, which is commonly practised by small‐scale farmers in Kenya, is undesirable from the point of view of bug damage.

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