Cowpea Vigna unguiculata which is grown both for vegetable and grain purposes in Tamil Nadu is a good source of protein. Among the various pests that infest this crop, the stemfly Ophiomyia phaseoli is an important one in the early stages of crop growth. The adult flioes lay their eggs on the tender stem of young plants. The maggots that hatch out, mine the leaf and stem and feed on the inner contents. The affected plants succump to the injury, wilt and die, thus resulting in the reduction in plant population and con-sequent loss in yield.
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