Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in 2006 and 2007 in Central Burkina Faso to determine extent of damage and yield losses caused by insect pests occurring on okra. We set up a trial with plot of unprotected and protected okra testing increasing doses of deltamethrin. The most important insect pests included 2 species of flea beetles Podagrica sp. These insects caused heavy defoliation of up to 80% of the leaf surface. Spraying of deltamethrin at the doses of 6.25 to 25 g a.i./ha was effective for controlling the insect population but no evidence of significant fruit yield losses was observed.

Key words: Podagrica sp., okra, deltamethrin, Burkina Faso.