Survey of Insect Pests Associated with Mango (Mangifera indica) Orchards in Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Mango production in North West Nigeria is economically vital, yet orchard yields are increasingly constrained by a complex of insect pests causing fruit damage, flower abortion, and tree decline. Katsina State is an emerging mango production zone whose pest dynamics have not been systematically documented. This study surveys insect pests in mango orchards across three LGAs of Katsina State during one full production cycle. Weekly visual inspections and sticky trap collections will be conducted at 20 orchards from budding through fruit maturity. Insects will be identified using taxonomic keys, and damage incidence scored at each phenological stage. Farmer perceptions of key pests and pesticide use practices will be documented through structured interviews. Population trends will be analyzed descriptively, and chi-square tests used to assess associations between orchard management intensity and pest abundance. Mango fruit flies (Bactrocera spp.) and scale insects (Coccidae) are expected among dominant pests. The study will produce a pest calendar specific to Katsina State conditions, designed as a practical extension tool. Recommendations will also address the risks of excessive pesticide reliance during mango flowering, which threatens natural enemy populations. Keywords: mango pests, orchard insects, Katsina State, Bactrocera, fruit fly management