Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science (DABCS)
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Item Assessing The Diversity Of Insects In A Quarry Operational Area In The Ashanti Region Of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2022-11) Addae, S.Quarrying activities have negative impacts on invertebrate biodiversity and threaten local species through a variety of factors, such as habitat loss and pollution. Quarrying is a common practice in Ghana, but little is known about its impact on local insect diversity and abundance. In this study, the relationship between quarrying activities and insect communities at an active quarrying site, the Mowire quarry site in the Ashanti region of Ghana, was assessed. Transect counts, aerial netting, pitfalls, FIT, and Charaxes trapping have been employed to assess arthropod assemblages, particularly insects as surrogate arthropod communities. A total of 2,902 individual insects from 56 families and eleven orders were recorded at all transect points of the three zones. The quarry operational area habitat in the East Zone (EZ) supported a high abundance (N = 974) of insects and high species richness (S = 49), corresponding to a large diversity of flowering plants at this site, which is a food source for pollinators and herbivorous insects. The western zone of the quarry's operational area was not conducive to insect assemblage as the lowest abundance, diversity and richness occurred at the transect point (TP) 400 m, consistent with the low abundance of host plants as well as the amounts of dust settling in the western zone after each blast, as dust travels toward the zone. It is recommended that interventions to prevent the loss of biodiversity habitats in and around the quarry site must be focused on policies that ensure and enforce the establishment of a dust control mechanism system in the extractive industry.Item Detection Of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus And Rickettsia Spp. In Ticks And Disease Exposure Of Livestock Handlers In The Greater Accra And Upper East Regions Of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2022-10) Bentil, R.E.Ticks are important blood-sucking arthropod vectors. They are known to spread a wide range of diseases that cause severe and life-threatening illnesses in humans and animals all over the world through feeding. In population-dense and trade-dominant areas such as the Greater Accra and Upper East Regions, the risk of zoonotic infections may be on the rise. This study, therefore, sought to identify the circulating tick species, assess the pathogens they carry and the risk of exposure of primary animal handlers. A total of 705 ticks were collected from cattle (n=188) and horses (n=11). Three tick genera (Hyalomma, Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus) were observed in the study with the predominant species being Hyalomma rufipes (n=290, 41.13%), followed by Amblyomma variegatum (n=157, 22.27%) and the least, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=1, 0.14%). It was also observed that the preferred point of attachment of all identified ticks was predominantly the Anal region (n=469, 68.37%) with the least site being the Abdominal region (n=5, 0.73%) for cattle except for Horses that had the least site being the chest (n=1, 5.26%). Out of the 705 tick samples, it was observed that in the Upper East Region, higher percentage of ticks collected (62.67%) were infected with Rickettsia as compared to ticks from Greater Accra (42.13%). Similarly, slightly more ticks were infected with Rickettsia africae in the Upper East Region (91.8%) than Greater Accra (91.38%). In addition, although Amblyomma variegatum was the second most prevalent species identified, the highest Rickettsia and Rickettsia africae infection rates were recorded in this species. The highest CCHFV infection rates were observed in Hyalomma rufipes. Serology carried out for a total of 120 human sera samples, for Rickettsia using an in-house ELISA revealed that 27.50% had been exposed to Spotted Fever Group (SFG) and 4.17% to Typhus Group (TG) and none exposed to the Scrub Typhus group (STG). Furthermore, preliminary analysis for antibodies to CCHFV IgG was detected in 42.5% of the human serum (n=120) samples pending confirmatory Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT). This study further reports the first whole-genome sequencing of CCHFV in tick species within Ghana with sequence analysis revealing genotype III (Africa III) may be circulating in the Upper East Region of Ghana. This suggests the possible importation of the CCHFV virus into the country through trade and thus puts livestock and humans who may have primary contact with livestock at risk of infection of these diseases.Item Weather Pattern And Diarrhoea Disease Vectors In Some Coastal Areas In Southern Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2021-12) Amekugee, N.E.Dipterans belonging to Muscidae, Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae families may mechanically transmit many microorganisms to humans like diarrhoea causing pathogens. It was imperative to determine seasonal variations in the diversity and density of dipteran vectors of diarrhoeal diseases in some coastal communities in the southern part of Ghana namely Anyako, Anyanui, Opetekwei and Mumford. This study investigated the seasonal variations in the diversity and density of dipteran vectors of diarrhoeal diseases relative to climatic factors in these coastal communities. The flies were collected by the use of plastic water bottle fly traps baited with mango, fish and meat. The collection was done in two seasons, dry (January-March) and wet (April-June). The flies were grouped into pools based on insect family, the month of collection and study sites then morphological identification of the flies was done using keys from Kirk-Spriggs & Sinclair (2017). These flies were swabbed for bacteria culture on T.C.B.S agar, S.S agar and Chromogenic UTI clarity agar. Identification of bacteria was performed using biochemical tests. The seasonality of flies was assessed throughout 6 months with baited traps in these 4 communities. A total of 8817 insects were collected and identified, consisting of 3 families and 3 genera – Muscidae (87.10%), Sarcophagidae (2%), Calliphoridae (10.66%). The greatest number of Muscidae, Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae peaked from April to May. The abundance levels of Muscidae and Sarcophagidae were positively correlated with relative humidity with p value of p<0.01 and p<0.05 respectively whiles Calliphoridae had a positive correlation with precipitation with a p value of p<0.01 in Anyako. Muscidae abundance level had a positive correlation with a p value of p<0.05 with temperature only in Anyanui and Mumford while no correlation was seen in Opetekwei. Escherichia coli, a diarrhoea-causing bacteria was isolated from all insect genera from all the communities in both the dry and wet seasons. The study has found that there was a seasonal variation in the density of flies across the different sites and these vary with climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation and most flies carried E. coli, a diarrhoea-causing bacteria.Item Diversity And Abundance Of Insects At Different Heights In Cocoa Farms.(University Of Ghana, 2022-07) Martinson, N.A.A.The usage of traps at a single stratum has mostly been investigated, which may underestimate or misrepresent the true abundance of insect species. Flowers along the stems, of cocoa trees, spreading out through the branches into the canopy, makes it unique and therefore may attract insects along its entire length. The goal of this study was to access the diversity and abundance of insects at different heights in cocoa farms. Pan traps consisting of yellow, blue and white colors were set at 3.0 m, 1.5 m, and 0.0 m on cocoa trees in three cocoa farms in the North-Eastern part of the Ashanti region. A total of 25,470 insects belonging to 87 species, 62 families, and 12 orders were catalogued and ranked. Thysanoptera was the most prevalent insect order, with 9,601 (37.7%), followed by Diptera with 7,079 (27.79%), and Hymenoptera with 6,101 (23.95 %). The three most dominant insect orders put together constituted between 62 – 95 % of the total coloured pan trap catches. The yellow pan traps proved to be the most effective, in terms of diversity of insects collected at the upper (3.0 m), middle \ (1.5 m) and lower (0.0 m) levels. The white pan traps performed better than the other traps at 1.5 m and 3.0 m. The white pan traps had the highest abundance of insects at 3.0 m and 1.5 m but for blue traps, height had little effect on its insect catches. Though there were no significant differences in insect abundance at different heights and trap performance, there were variations in total insect catches at the different levels and to pan trap colour. Knowledge on the distribution and collections of insects would help to control or conserve their numbers in a more systematic way and which can be a good reference in future, making sampling easier and increasing reliability. At different heights it could inform levels at which insect groups are likely to be concentrated, between times and seasons. This could be useful in pest management practices, as well as suggesting monitoring and sampling protocols future research activities. Note: Height = Vertical level keywords: Insect diversity & abundance, heights, cocoa, pan traps.Item Evaluation Of The Susceptibility Of Four Garden Egg (Solanum Aethiopicum) Varieties To The Major Field Insect Pests(University Of Ghana, 2022-12) Asamoah, M.P.Field experiments were conducted at Forest and Horticultural Crop Research Center, Kade, Ghana during the 2020 and 2021 cropping season. The susceptibility of four garden egg varieties against the major field insect pest under field conditions. The varieties namely: Aworoworo, Yorgbe, Round garden egg and Legon 1 varieties were laid in randomized complete block design with four replicates. The major insects observed to be causing varying degree of damage were Aphis gossypii, Aphis craccivora, Urentius hystricellus, thrips tabaci Leucinodes orbonalis and lastly Zonocerus variegatus. Insect pest infestation varied among the different varieties. The weekly population build-up of the insects per the different varieties were observed. The population of the insects was fluctuating from the time data collection began to harvesting. For insects such as the Aphis gossypii, Aphis craccivora, their numbers were high whilst insects such as Zonocerus variegatus, Leucinodes orbonalis were recorded in low numbers. In the minor season, Urentius hystricellus was found but was recorded in high numbers in the dry season however, their numbers reduced in the major season. Also, insect pests that attacked the different developmental stages of garden egg were observed. From the study, Aphis gossypii, Aphis craccivora, Zonocerus variegatus, Thrips tabaci and Urentius hystricellus were found to be attacking all the different growth stages of garden eggs. For Leucinodes orbonalis, it was found to be attacking the plant during the flowering and fruiting stages of the plant. In assessing the resistance level in the varieties, none of the varieties was found to be resistant. Based on the susceptibility index, it was found that the Legon 1 variety recorded the highest susceptibility level and was grade as susceptible whilst the Yorgbe variety recorded the least index and was graded as being moderately resistant. The Aworoworo variety and the Round garden egg variety was graded moderately susceptible and moderately resistant respectively.Item Effects Of Potent Fungal-Based Biopesticides On Promising Indigenous Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Associated Parasitoids In Kenya.(2021-12) Junitor, A.Maize is a major staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly grown by resource-poor farmers. It is the third most important agricultural commodity worldwide after rice and wheat. However, its production is threatened by several biotic and abiotic factors such as cereal pests, parasitic weeds (striga), moisture stress, low fertility and diseases that inflict 15 – 90% yield losses. Arthropod pests are among the main factors leading to low maize yield and are central to many of today's major maize production challenges. These losses have been aggravated by the recent invasion of Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a highly polyphagous pest that affects many crops with a great preference for cereal crops such as maize, sorghum, and rice. Many control strategies have focused on the use of synthetic chemical pesticides which has a lot of adverse effects to human and environmentand has been ineffective. Biological control of FAW using parasitoids; Telenomus remus, Cotesia icipe and entomopathogenic fungal-based biopesticides have been explored. However, the combination of these biocontrol agents against FAW has not been evaluated in the invaded areas. In this study, four most potent entomopathogenic fungal isolates mainly Metarhizium anisopliae (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41 and ICIPE 78) and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 621) were screened against FAW in the laboratory through direct and indirect fungal infections to assess their pathogenicity and virulence against T. remus and C. icipe, and determined their effects on the oviposition, emergence and parasitism rates of these parasitoids. The results showed high susceptibility of the parasitoids through direct infection, where M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 caused the highest mortality rate on adult T. remus (95.83 ± 4.17%) after direct infection of dry conidia to the adult parasitoids, whereas both M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41 caused 100% mortality to adult C. icipe seven day post-infection. However, the infected adult parasitoids were able to parasitize FAW larvae that were exposed to them prior to their death, but their F1 generation emergence was also significantly affected by direct fungal infection, with highest number of parasitoids recorded in the control (83.25 ± 5.94%) compared to fungal treatments. In the indirect infection where infected second instar FAW larvae were exposed to the parasitoids, M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41 and B. bassiana ICIPE 621 caused moderate mortality rates to T. remus, except M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 that caused >60% mortality to this egg parasitoid at all the concentrations (1 x 105 – 1 x 109 conidia/ml). However, the mortality rates of the endoparasitoid C. icipe increased when the fungal isolates concentrations also increased. In both direct and indirect infections, additional induced mortality of FAW eggs and larvae was also obtained. Furthermore, high parasitism rates were obtained for both parasitoids in indirect fungal treatments as well as in the controls compared to direct infection experiment where the parasitism rates were lower (~40%) in fungal treatments than the controls (83.25%) for T. remus; while high parasitism rates were observed in M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 (62%) and B. bassiana ICIPE 621 (58%) compared to 35.75 and 36.75% in M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41, respectively for C. icipe. This study demonstrated that effective combination of entomopathogenic fungal-based biopesticides with both parasitoid species through indirect infection provide better suppression of FAW populations and consequently could be integrated into FAW-IPM strategies. Maize is a major staple food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly grown by resource-poor farmers. It is the third most important agricultural commodity worldwide after rice and wheat. However, its production is threatened by several biotic and abiotic factors such as cereal pests, parasitic weeds (striga), moisture stress, low fertility and diseases that inflict 15 – 90% yield losses. Arthropod pests are among the main factors leading to low maize yield and are central to many of today's major maize production challenges. These losses have been aggravated by the recent invasion of Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a highly polyphagous pest that affects many crops with a great preference for cereal crops such as maize, sorghum, and rice. Many control strategies have focused on the use of synthetic chemical pesticides which has a lot of adverse effects to human and environmentand has been ineffective. Biological control of FAW using parasitoids; Telenomus remus, Cotesia icipe and entomopathogenic fungal-based biopesticides have been explored. However, the combination of these biocontrol agents against FAW has not been evaluated in the invaded areas. In this study, four most potent entomopathogenic fungal isolates mainly Metarhizium anisopliae (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41 and ICIPE 78) and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 621) were screened against FAW in the laboratory through direct and indirect fungal infections to assess their pathogenicity and virulence against T. remus and C. icipe, and determined their effects on the oviposition, emergence and parasitism rates of these parasitoids. The results showed high susceptibility of the parasitoids through direct infection, where M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 caused the highest mortality rate on adult T. remus (95.83 ± 4.17%) after direct infection of dry conidia to the adult parasitoids, whereas both M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41 caused 100% mortality to adult C. icipe seven day post-infection. However, the infected adult parasitoids were able to parasitize FAW larvae that were exposed to them prior to their death, but their F1 generation emergence was also significantly affected by direct fungal infection, with highest number of parasitoids recorded in the control (83.25 ± 5.94%) compared to fungal treatments. In the indirect infection where infected second instar FAW larvae were exposed to the parasitoids, M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41 and B. bassiana ICIPE 621 caused moderate mortality rates to T. remus, except M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 that caused >60% mortality to this egg parasitoid at all the concentrations (1 x 105 – 1 x 109 conidia/ml). However, the mortality rates of the endoparasitoid C. icipe increased when the fungal isolates concentrations also increased. In both direct and indirect infections, additional induced mortality of FAW eggs and larvae was also obtained. Furthermore, high parasitism rates were obtained for both parasitoids in indirect fungal treatments as well as in the controls compared to direct infection experiment where the parasitism rates were lower (~40%) in fungal treatments than the controls (83.25%) for T. remus; while high parasitism rates were observed in M. anisopliae ICIPE 78 (62%) and B. bassiana ICIPE 621 (58%) compared to 35.75 and 36.75% in M. anisopliae ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 41, respectively for C. icipe. This study demonstrated that effective combination of entomopathogenic fungal-based biopesticides with both parasitoid species through indirect infection provide better suppression of FAW populations and consequently could be integrated into FAW-IPM strategies.Item Impact Of Covid-19 Outbreak On The Prevalence Of Soil Transmitted Helminths Among School Children In The Volta Region Of Ghana.(University of Ghana, 2021-12) Vorsah, R.Y.Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) continue to pose a substantial health risk to humans, particularly children, all over the world, with the majority of cases occurring in underdeveloped countries. This study, carried out from March to April 2021, investigated the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on STH infections among primary school children in the Ho West and Afadjato South Districts in the Volta Region of Ghana using stool examination, microscopic techniques and administered questionnaire. The parasitological examination of 347 stool samples showed that 144 (41.5 %) were positive for STHs: hookworm (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) (21.9%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (9.2%). The risk of STH infection among females was observed to be higher compared to males (OR = 3.69; 95% CI =1.48-9.20; p = 0.005) In the Ho West district, school children who used blade to cut their nails are less likely at risk to helminth infection than those who bite their nails in Ho West district (OR= 0.26; CI = 0.93- 0.70; p= 0.008 but there was no significant association between potential risk factors and STHinfections in the Afadjato South District. More parents reported anthelminthic drug administration to their children before COVID-19 outbreak compared to during COVID-19 outbreak (χ² (df) =31.04(1), p <0.0001). Eighty-one of school children in both districts (84%) were positive for Trichuris infection, there was a significant difference between parent’s response and Trichuris infection among those who administered anthelminthic drug before and during COVID-19 (p <0.0001). The high prevalence of STHs infections among primary school children calls for education on the proper hygiene habits and regular deworming exercise among residents in the study area.Item Diversity And Abundance Of Arthropods And Predators Of The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In Maize Agroecosystems And Their Potential For Biological Control(University Of Ghana, 2021-12) Idemudia, I.The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is currently the most devastating invasive arthropod pest of maize in sub-Saharan Africa. Following the first report of S. frugiperda in Ghana in 2016, its control has been reliant on synthetic chemical insecticides. Due to reliance and overuse of these insecticides, the pest has evolved resistance and requires higher application frequencies for control. Furthermore, non-target/beneficial organisms are negatively impacted by insecticides. Therefore, this thesis sought to investigate the role of two different management options of S. frugiperda on the diversity and abundance of arthropod species, including predators as well as the infestation levels of S. frugiperda in maize agroecosystems at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC) of the University of Ghana, Kpong, located within the lower Volta basin of the Coastal Savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana. The investigations were conducted in the major and minor maize cropping seasons. Also, evaluations of the predatory potential and functional response of the predator Rhynocoris bicolor (Fabricius) were made following the recommendations by the Centre of Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) and the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). The field experiment consisted of two different treatment plots: a biocontrol maize plot (BCM) where augmentative releases of the egg parasitoid, Telenomus remus (Nixon) were made and maize plot with farmer’s practice (MFP) in which the insecticide; Emamectin benzoate-based product, Ataka Super EC®: Emamectin benzoate 19.2 g/l was applied. A control maize plot without any treatment was included. The predatory potential of the predator R. bicolor was determined in laboratory assays at the PPRSD biocontrol laboratory in Pokuase, Accra. Results showed that both in the major and minor maize cropping seasons, significantly more arthropods, including predators were recorded in the control plots than in the MFP plots. Further, the diversity of the arthropods including predators was significantly lower in the MFP plot than in the control and BCM plots, articulating that the insecticides used by maize growers in Ghana had adverse effects on the arthropod communities and reduce biocontrol services. Conversely, a total of seven predatory arthropods: Crematogaster striatula (Emery), Cosmolestes pictus (Klug), Haematochares obscuripennis (Stal), Hediocoris tibialis (Stal), Rhynocoris sp. Sphedanolestes picturellus (Schouteden), and Misumenops sp. were confirmed predators of S. frugiperda after laboratory tests. The laboratory assays on R. bicolor revealed that the predator exhibits a type II functional response, with S. frugiperda as prey. Hence, could be considered a potential biocontrol agent of S. frugiperda in Ghana.Item Gastrointestinal Parasites Of Public Health Importance In Cercopithecus Mona Of Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary In The Afadjato South District Of Ghana(University Of Ghana, 2021-12) Amu, I.K.Transmission of pathogens from animals to humans accounts for over 60% of infectious diseases in humans and 75% of all zoonotic diseases emanate from wild rather than domestic animals. Tafi Atome monkey sanctuary is a conserved grove that surrounds human population and serves as a habitat for many troops of habituated Cercopithecus mona (mona monkeys) that welcome many tourists annually and generate revenue for the district assembly. The habitat sharing bridges the human animal interface, providing avenue for pathogen trade-off between cohabited human and mona monkeys populations. This study aimed at characterising gastrointestinal parasites of public health importance in these monkeys at the Tafi Atome monkey sanctuary in the Afadjato South District of Ghana. Stool samples of school-aged children and faecal samples of mona monkeys were collected, processed and examined microscopically for parasite infection status. Using morphological characteristics, three genera of helminths and one protozoan were identified in both humans and mona monkey. The helminths were Hookworm, Strongyloides and Ascaris, while the protozoan was Giardia lamblia. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in humans (47.6%) and mona monkeys (26.4%) was statistically significant (χ²(df) = 12.96(1); p= 0.0003), but prevalence was insignificant between the two sampling areas of Tafi And Avatime Dzokpe (χ²(df) 2.944 (1); p=0.077). The highest gastrointestinal prevalence in humans was hookworm (21.09%) while in mona monkeys, Ascaris and Strongyloides (8.05%) were most prevalent. The sharing of parasites between humans and mona monkeys of the sanctuary could be indicative of possible zoonotic transmission. Regular administration of anthelminthic to the vulnerable groups in the catchment area of the sanctuary would be necessary to ameliorate the effects of gastrointestinal parasites in the human animal interface of Tafi Atome.Item Susceptibility Of Five Cowpea Varieties To Field And Storage Insect Pests(University Of Ghana, 2021-09) Baffoe- Ansah, J.Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata, is a popular food crop in the tropics and subtropics. The crop is particularly susceptible to pests and diseases, limiting its yield. Cowpea cultivars that are resistant to pests in the field and in storage are becoming increasingly significant. Five improved cowpea varieties were screened (‘Asontem’, ‘Golinga’, Kirk house, ‘Padi Tuya’ and ‘Wang Kae’) for their susceptibility to field and storage insect pests. The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments and four replicates. The insect pests encountered were identified and recorded. Mean yield parameters such as number of pods per plant, weight of pods per plant, length of pod, number of seeds per pod, number of loci per pod, seed weight per pod, 100-seed weight, and total yield were assessed. In the minor season, ‘Golinga’ recorded the highest number of pods per plant, while ‘Padi Tuya’ had the least number of pods per plant. Meanwhile, ‘Asontem’ recorded the highest yield of 71.7 g in the minor season, while ‘Padi Tuya’ recorded the least value of 60.4 g. In the major season, ‘Wang Kae’ recorded the highest number of pods per plant, while ‘Padi Tuya’ recorded the least number of pods per plant. ‘Asontem’ again recorded the highest total yield of 74.1 g while ‘Padi Tuya’ recorded the least mean total yield of 59.2 g. Correlation between insect infestations and yield of the varieties in the field was determined. Aphis craccivora infestation was negatively correlated (r = - 0.2368, p > 0.05) with total yield in the major season. Megalurothrips sjostedti infestation was negatively correlated with the total yield (r = - 0.0784, P > 0.005) in the major season, and was also negatively correlated with the total yield (r = - 0.4232, P > 0.01) in the minor season. Maruca vitrata infestation was positively correlated with the total yield (r = 0.0636), P > 0.05) in the major season, while it was negatively correlated with total yield (r = - 0.3767, P >0.01) in the minor season. The laboratory experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Block Design with five treatments and three replicates. There was significant repellence of Callosobruchus maculatus by the different concentrations (1g/mL and 2g/mL) of the five cowpea extracts. All five cowpea varieties recorded C. maculatus mortalities after 4 days of introducing the adult insects onto the seeds. The five cowpea varieties recorded some levels of damage for the six-week period after introduction of C. maculatus. C. maculatus infestations and seed weight during storage were determined after the six-week period. The median development period of the C. maculatus in the five cowpea varieties ranged from 17 to 28 days, with four out of the five varieties (‘Asontem’, ‘Golinga’, ‘Kirkhouse’ and ‘Wang Kae’) classified as moderately resistant to insect infestation, and one (‘Padi Tuya’) classified as susceptible to insect infestation. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis on the cowpea varieties confirmed the presence of different levels of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids.