Red ant Oecophylla smaragdina (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the management of cowpea pests

Abstract

Oecophylla smaragdina treatment in the management of cowpea pests showed yields comparable with POP. More number of pods was harvested from T2 (POP) followed by T1 (red ant). Fresh weights of the pods were significantly low in control but T1 and T2 were on par. In the study on impact of selected pesticides on red ant showed low ant activity and number of live nests in the sprayed plants at one week after the treatment, compared to the pre-treatment count. Tobacco decoction @ 2.5 per cent did not seriously affect red ant activity.