Effects of cypermethrin and deltamethrin on the feeding behaviour of Aphis craccivora and transmission of cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus

SUMMARY The effects of two synthetic pyrethroids, cypermethrin and deltamethrin, on the feeding behaviour of Aphis craccivora and its transmission of the nonpersistent cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic virus (CAMV) were compared to those of an organophosphate (dimethoate) and carbamate (pirimicarb) in greenhouse and laboratory tests. Cypermethrin at 100, 150 and 200 mg a.i. litre‐1 and deltamethrin at 75, 100 and 150 mg a.i. litre‐1 restricted the acquisition and inoculation of CAMV, whereas dimethoate and pirimicarb had no significant effect. Cypermethrin protected against transmission of CAMV longer after application than deltamethrin and there was a strong interaction between The duration of the first probe was shorter on pyrethroid‐treated plants than on dimethoate‐or pirimicarb‐treated plants, and on pyrethroid‐treated plants aphids probably did not probe long enough to acquire or inoculate CAMV. It is concluded that the use of synthetic pyrethroids is potentially valuable in controlling CAMV in the field until resistance against the virus has been bred into cultivars.