Assessment of Bio Efficacy of the Larval Stages of Rhynocoris albopilosus for the Control of Podagrica decolorata, a Pest of Okra in Côte d’Ivoire

Okra is a vegetable crop with significant nutritional properties which is unfortunately subject to attack by Podagrica decolorata, thereby reducing the quantity and quality of marketable fruit. To protect their crops, vegetable growers generally resort to chemical insecticides, which have a detrimental effect on the environment and biodiversity. The study of the bio-efficacy of the larval stages of Rhynocoris albopilosus forms part of the search for an alternative to the use of chemical insecticides to control P. decolorata. This study was carried out in Man, in the west of Côte d’Ivoire. Data were collected from cages in which individuals of R. albopilosus at different stages of development were placed. In each cage, the number of prey varied between 5, 10, 15 and 20, and checks were carried out 24 and 48 hours after the prey were released. The results of this study revealed that stage 5 was more aggressive than the other larval stages. With regard to adults, the study revealed that females were more effective predators than males, with an average predation rate of 6 individuals in 24 hours. R. albopilosus could therefore serve as a biological alternative to the use of chemical pesticides, with the primary aim of developing an integrated pest management programme to effectively control P. decolorata.