DAMAGE POTENTIALS AND CONTROL OF THE COTTON STAINER Dysdercus volkeri F. (HETEROPTERA: PYRRHOCORIDAE) ON COTTON IN NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Damage potentials and control of the cotton stainer Dysdercus volkeri F. was studied on five cotton varieties in a field trial conducted at Yola, Adamawa State and Kaltungo, Gombe state, in 2022 cropping season in the North Eastern Nigeria. The experiments were laid using split-plot design (SPD) which were replicated four (4) times consisting of five cotton varieties (SAMCOT 8, SAMCOT 9, SAMCOT 10, SAMCOT 11, SAMCOT 12) which were the subplots, while Lambda plus, Moringa seed oil at 50% concentration, Moringa seed oil at 100% concentration and the control were the main plots. Data was taken on damage parameters such as discolouration and mouldiness. Germination test was conducted and the cotton yield was determined. SAMCOT 10 had the highest discolouration and mouldiness (9.50) and SAMCOT 8 had the least (8.13). SAMCOT 10 had the highest germination percentage (54.25%) with the least occurring in SAMCOT 8 with (42.63%). SAMCOT 8 had the highest cotton yield of 2361.41Kgha-1. The least yield was on SAMCOT 11(2295.89 Kgha-1), this was from combined analysis of the damage parameters. Plots treated with Lambda plus had more cotton yield compared to plots treated with Moringa seed oil at 50% and 100% concentration and the untreated plots. The highest cotton yield was on plot treated with Lambda plus (3179.29 kgha-1) followed by plots treated with Moringa seed oil at 100% concentration (2531.00 Kgha-1) and treated with Moringa seed oil at 50% concentration (2030.69 kgha-1) and the least was on untreated plots with (1507.42 Kgha-1). Spraying with the systemic insecticide Lambda plus offered the best control for D. volkeri in this study.