Host plants and seasonal population fluctuations of the cowpea pod borer, Etiella zinckenella Treit. Infesting green pods of cowpea and bonavia bean in Sharkia governorate, Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Field studies were conducted during two snccessive years in the period from 2001 to 2003 to survey host plants of the cowpea pod borer, Etieffa zinckenella Treit. in three different regions ofSharkia Governorate , i.e.; Fakous, Zagazig and Belbeis (three sites for each). Moreover, seasonal populations fluctuations of the borer as influenced by changes in certain weather factors, i.e.; temperatnre and relative humidity were studied on cowpea and bonavia bean (Iablab) host plants during two successive summer growing seasons of 2001 and 2002 for cowpea and the two consecutive years of 200112002 and 2002/ 2003 for lablab at Khattara, Zagazig and Belbeis regions for the first host plant and the two former regions for the second one. The obtained results can be summarized in the following points: 1- Of 16 leguminous and cruciferous podding plants, the cowpea pod borer infested some leguminous plants such as bonavia bean (Iablab), cowpea, pea, soyabean, broad bean, kidney <bean and lentil. Bonavia bean, cowpea and soyabean were heavily infested than other hosts, while kidney bean, pea and lentil were slightly attacked. Pods of fenugreek, Egyptian lupine, Egyptian sesban, Egyptian acacia and sponge tree from legnminous plants as well as those of cruciferous ones, i.e.; cauliflower, radish, garden rocket and black mustard were not infested with the borer. < 2-The insect larvae firstly occurred in cowpea green pods in the third <week of Jnne in both 2001 and 2002 seasons at Khattara region, and then they fluctuated in numbers to show two and fonr activity peaks in the first and second seasons, respectively. Also, at Zagazig region the borer started to appear in the third and fourth weeks of Jnne and showed . four peaks in 2001 season and in 2002 season. While, its initial iBcidence at Belbeis region took place in the second week of June and had one and two peaks on cowpea during the first and second season consecutively.

Summary in Arabic.

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