INSECT PESTS ASSOCIATED WITH WINGED BEAN IN GHANA

Abstract

Insects associated with 17 varieties of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) at preflowering, flowering and post-flowering are present ed. Based on the study, the most serious insect pests were the thrips Taeniothrips sp., which sucked the plant sap and caused the flowers to di and shrivel; green soldier bug, Nezara viridula Linn., and bean pyramid, Maruca testulalis Geyer, which fed on the pods and invariably caused their drop. Generally, most of the insects associated with this plant fed on the leaves and stem.