Effect of cowpea monocultures and polycultures with sorghum and greengram on predatory arthropods

Prior to implementing biological control, knowledge on availability of the possible enemies of pest(s) is important. Therefore, as part of a larger on -farm study whose main objective was to develop a farmer-friendly package f or the management of cowpea pests, the diversity and abundance of insect pr edators within cowpea cropping systems (sole crops and intercrops) were mon itored at three diverse locations in eastern Uganda. Coccinellids, syrphid larvae, spiders, Orius sp. and earwigs were observed at all locations. Abun dance of Coccinellids and syrphid larvae were not influenced by the cowpea genotype nor cropping systems. Contrastingly, the abundance of predatory Or ius sp., spiders and earwigs differed significantly among the cowpea croppi ng systems, being more common in the cowpea pure stands and cowpea + greeng ram than in the cowpea + sorghum intercrops.