Review and Updating of Insect Pest Control Calendars for Cowpea Production in Gombe State, North East Nigeria

Pest control calendars are practical tools that guide farmers on the timing of management interventions relative to crop growth stages and pest population peaks. Existing pest calendars for cowpea in North East Nigeria were developed decades ago and may no longer accurately reflect current pest pressure dynamics, climate change-adjusted season lengths, or the pest complex now present. This study reviews and updates pest control calendars for cowpea production in Gombe State, integrating current field surveillance data with historical literature. Field monitoring of pest incidence will be conducted on 30 cowpea farms across three LGAs throughout one full growing season. Weekly observations will record the timing and intensity of attack by flower thrips, pod borers, legume pod bugs, and bruchid weevils at each phenological stage. Historical pest timing data from published sources and NAERLS agricultural survey reports will be reviewed and compared with current observations. Climate data will be used to assess phenological shifts in pest emergence. Updated pest calendars will be presented in formats suitable for distribution by the Gombe State Agricultural Development Programme and local farmer cooperatives. The updated tool will explicitly address revised economic thresholds for each key pest. Keywords: pest control calendar, cowpea pests, Gombe State, phenology, pest management guidelines