Abstract

Green peach aphid has been a significant pest of garden peas in Kenya for many years, because of its capacity to transmit viruses. Despite advances in integrated pest management, and frequent use of insecticides, the industry is still plagued by the insect. Adding to the problem is the fact that the peach aphid has proved to be resistant to various insecticides; there is a need to shift emphasis on biological control agents and softer chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate hard and soft chemical products in their ability to control Myzus persicae and their effects on aphid parasitoids. The treatments evaluated were dish washing soap with insecticidal properties, Teepol®, neem based insecticide, Achook® and a pyrethroid, Karate®. Efficacy was evaluated by taking aphid and parasitized aphid counts on 2 cm portion of the shoot tip/leaves of selected shoots before treatments were applied, once a week for four weeks. The treatments were applied at the concentrations recommended by the manufacturers. The three insecticides controlled the aphids. There was no significant difference in aphid numbers between the three insecticides. The population of aphids on the control was high. Except for the Karate treatment, the other two insecticides tested did not have an adverse effect on aphid parasitoid. Teepol and Achook promise to be useful agents for controlling green peach aphids in garden peas and at the same time are friendly to the aphid parasitoid.

Key words: Integrated pest management, Pisium sativum, parasitoid, Myzus persicae, biocontrol.