ACEPHATE EFFECT ON DRYLAND AND IRRIGATED COWPEAS WHEN APPLIED FOR THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE) AND CORN-EARWORM (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) CONTROL

Cowpeas grown under dry conditions had significantly higher yield incr eases following acephate insecticide application at or just before fir st bloom compared with those receiving other treatments. Yield respons es to acephate were lower in fields with abundant moisture or irrigati on than in dry fields. Acephate application for thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), F. tritici (Fitch), and Neohydatothrips variabilis (Bea ch) (=Sericothrips variabilis [Beach]), control during early seedling stages resulted in less foliage insect damage. However, acephate appli cations to seedling stages did not result in yield increases. Corn ear worm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), had little impact on yield in fields w here earworms were monitored.