By Paul Donovan
Nearly all parts of a plant are targeted by pests. However, most pests ignore the seeds, as they are often unpalatable or covered by a hard shell.
Scientific name: Agonoscelis versicolor
Family: Pentatomidae
Distribution: Widespread over much of Africa
Description
Nearly all parts of a plant are targeted by pests. However, most pests ignore the seeds, as they are often unpalatable or covered by a hard shell. But there are exceptions. The seeds of the sunflower, for example, are favoured by the sunflower seed bug. This is about 1cm long, shield-shaped, and maroon-red with yellow segments along its sides.
Despite its name, this widespread bug feeds on several other crops as well: cowpeas, millet, sesame, sorghum and soya beans.The bug has a needle-like mouthpart through which it injects digestive saliva into the seed. This dissolves the inner flesh of the seed, which the bug then sucks out. Seeds that have been attacked turn brown or black and die.
Reproduction
Females lay their eggs on the underside of fallen leaves. The eggs are oval and white, turning a dark blue as hatching nears.
A female will lay 50 to 60 eggs at a time, with 10 batches being laid in total, spread over several leaves, or even other plants.
The nymphs (larvae that look like small versions of the adults) are orange with yellow and brown markings.