Biological control of the pod borer Maruca vitrata with exotic parasitoids

Low-cost natural pest control

The technology of "Biological control of the pod borer Maruca vitrata with exotic parasitoids" involves the strategic use of specific parasitic wasps as natural predators to manage and reduce the population of the destructive Maruca vitrata pod borer. These parasitoid wasps are sourced from the World Vegetable Center labs in Taiwan and are released in collaboration with national agencies in affected regions. The approach begins with the controlled rearing of parasitic wasps in laboratory settings, using live caterpillars of the pod borer as their hosts. Once these parasitoid wasps are ready, they are released either directly onto cowpea fields during the cropping season or on wild host plants during the off-season. After these releases, the parasitoids establish themselves in the environment, typically on wild vegetation. Over time, they naturally spread to cowpea fields, where the pod borer infestations occur. The key objective is to enable these parasitic wasps to reproduce, multiply, and effectively control the pod borer population. This biological control strategy is often coupled with the use of cowpea varieties that are resistant or tolerant to the pod borer and the application of eco-friendly products like neem or other compatible biopesticides. By utilizing this approach, the need for chemical pesticides is significantly reduced or eliminated. The ultimate goal of this technology is to create a self-sustaining population of parasitoid wasps that consistently and effectively reduce the damage caused by the Maruca vitrata pod borer to cowpea crops.