Defoliators and Sap Sucking Insects of Pigeon-Pea in Barbados, West Indies M. M. Alam I. H. Gibbs CARDI/Sugar Technology Research Unit Edgehill, St. Thomas, Barbados, W.I. Like most other crops, pigeon-peas are attacked by several insects, some of which cause heavy crop losses. These pests re- quire special attention to arrest their damage, while others cause limited damage and need few or no control measures. During these studies, from twenty-two pest species recorded in Barbados, eight were feeding on leaves, and fourteen suck- ing sap from leaves, stems and pods. A number of indigenous natural enemies attacking these pest were also recorded. Defoliators 1. Velvet Bean Caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). In Barbados, occasional outbreaks cause serious defoliation on peigeon-pea and beans. The adults are 1.3-1.8mm long, with a wing span ranging from 3.3-4.0cm. Forewings are pale greyish-brown; a narrow pale line, with a dark margin on either side of it, traverses both wings diagonally. The larvae are relatively slender, either green marked with longitudinal lines, or more brownish, with more prominent longitudinal lines. Eggs are ribbed, circular and dome-shaped. The eggs are laid in clusters on the leaves. The larvae which move with a looping action, feed on the leaves, and after cdefoliating one plant, they move on to another. When disturbed, they drop to the ground with pulsating movements. Pupation oc- curs in the soil or among the debris on the ground. The pest is widely distributed in the Caribbean, the United States of America and Latin America. It also feeds on beans (Phaseolus spp., Phaseolus vulgarir), woolly pyrol (Phaseolus mungo), bonavist bean (Lablab niger [ = Dolichos lablab]), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), sugarcane (Sac- charum officinarum), wild dolly (Macroptilium lathyroides), shame bush (Mimosa spp.) and several other cultivated and wild plants. Indigenous natural enemies include Carinodes havanensis (Cameron) (Ichneumonidae) and Brachymeria ovata (Say) (Chalcididae)- Parasites. Cycloneda sanguinea (L.) (Coc- cinellidae); Chrysopa sp., Chrysopa lanata (Banks) and Chrysopa limitata (Navas) (Chrysopidae); and Polistes barbadensis (Richards) (Vespidae)- Predators. The eggs of A. gemmatalis are parasitised by an introduced species, Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Scelionidae) and the larvae by Bracon sp. prob. hebetor (Say) (close to Bracon brevicornis [Wesmeal]) (Braconidae). 2. A Leaf-tip roller, Caloptilia sp. (Lepidoptera:Gracillari- idae). This is a minor pest. A single egg is laid in a slightly curled leaf-tip. On hatching, the larva rolls up the leaf tip further and secures it with a silken thread, thus forming a hollow tube in which to feed. As the larva grows in size, the leaf roll is also enlarged. Initially the larva lacerates the leaf cells and sucks the exuding sap. At a later stage it feeds on parenchyma. Owing to the small size of the larva, the actual damage to the leaf is negligible, but the infested leaves, due to lack of photosynthesis, eventually die and fall prematurely. Pupation occurs in the leaf roll. In Barbados, it is parasitised by Asympiesella sp. (Eulophidae). VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY 3. The Sugarcane Root-borer, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae). Generally this is a minor pest, but during outbreaks, pigeon- pea is a favorite host plant on which the adults congregate, mate, feed and lay eggs. During such times the plants are heavily defoliated. Alam (1976) reported on the general behavior, life-cycle, alter- nate host plants, and discussed various methods of control. Besides the indigenous and exotic natural enemies reported by Alam (1976), three additional parasite species, viz. Tetrastichus sp. prob. haitiensis (Gahan) and Horismenus sp. prob. cupreus (Ashm.) (Eulophidae) and Ufens sp. (Trichogrammatidae), at- tacking the eggs of Diaprepesfamelicus (Gyll.) on Citrus spp., in Montserrat, were introduced into Barbados. As D. abbreviatus tends to lay eggs on citrus leaves, these parasites were released in citrus orchards, but no recoveries were made. As the adults are attracted in large numbers to pigeon-pea, maize and citrus, these plants may be sprayed with a fast acting, non-residual insecticidess, such as Malathion, Dibrom (naled), Dimecron, Elecron, Ekalux or Pyrethrins (Fewkes, 1979). Soil treatment with persistent organochlorine insecticides such as Chlordane, applied at the rate of 1 kg. a.i. /ha against first and second instar larvae, 3 kg a.i./ha against third instar larvae and Heptachlor, 7 1/ha of 3E concentration (also available as the granular formulation) have been tried and recommended (Alam, 1976). Chemicals should be incorporated into the soil during preparation of the land immediately before or at planting. 4. Promecops lunatus (Fhs.) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae). The adults fray the leaf edges of the crop. A heavy attack causes serious damage. The biology and natural enemies have not been studied. Chemical control as for Diaprepes is applicable for this species. Sucking Insects 1. The Green Stink-bug, Nezara viridula (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Barbados this is a minor to negligible pest. The adults and nymphs suck sap from tender leaf-stalks and pods. Adults are green, shield shaped and rather flattened dorsally. The egg is about 1mm high and cylindrical, about 1.3 times as high as wide. It is creamy-yellow at first, changing to orange before hatching. The eggs are laid on the leaf surface in rows forming a hexagonal cluster of about 30 to 100 eggs. The incuba- tion period is about 5 days. The newly hatched nymphs remain clustered for a day near the egg-shells, then gradually disperse and start sucking the cell sap from the leaves. They pass through five moults before reaching the adults stage. The nymphal stage 35