Biological Some
parasitoids have been shown to serve as a biological control for
Maruca vitrata.
Parasitoid wasps families include
Braconidae and
Ichneumonidae; some
parasitoid flies in the
Tachinidae are also natural enemies of the moth.
M. vitrata prefers to lay its eggs on the flowering bodies of the cowpea plant. Efforts have been made to deter
M. vitrata from reproducing on the plant ranging from
pesticides to a chemical specifically designed to sterilize the moth.
Genetically modified cowpeas has been developed to express the
cry protein from
Bacillus thuringiensis, which is toxic to
lepidopteran species, particularly to the pod borer. This technology have benefited farmers by providing greater profitability, higher yields, and reduced pesticide use. ==Distribution==