Several insecticides have been evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling the most important insect pest of cocoa in Nigeria - the brown cocoa mirid (BCM), Sahlbergella singularis. Majority of the earlier approved pesticides for use on cocoa plantations have been banned due to residue issues. Among the insecticides passed for protection of cocoa farms against insect pests were Thiamethoxam (Actara 25WG) and Chlorpyrifos (Dursban 4EC). Actara 25 WG was tested at four different minimal concentrations of 0.01, 0.013, 0.015 and 0.02% in the field against the BCM and 100% mortality was achieved within 24 hours of treatment at 0.02%. The residue analysis from beans treated at this effective concentration was 0.2mg/kg, which is below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set for cocoa beans by the European Union (0.05mg/kg). Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) has also been advocated to minimize residues in cocoa beans. Some management measures, other than insecticides, put in place to effectively control the BCM were the use of resistant cocoa varieties, cultural control practices and biological control.

Efficacy of insecticides screened against the brown cocoa mirid <i>Sahlbergella singularis</i> and management practices to minimize residues in cocoa beans in Nigeria

248th National Meeting (2014)

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Efficacy of insecticides screened against the brown cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis and management practices to minimize residues in cocoa beans in Nigeria