author(s)
Remy Tshibingu Mukendi, Louis Baboy Longanza, Antoine Kanyenga Lubobo and Théodore Mushambanyi Munyuli

abstract
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is a vegetable legumes that is highly susceptible to insect pests. These insect pests cause significant damage to food legumes in the field. In rural areas, yield losses attributable to pests oscillate between 20 and 100% depending on the cropping season, the farming practices and the local environmental characteristics. The assessment of the sensitivity to pest attacks by 12 cowpea genotypes was conducted under field and research station conditions in Ngandajika territory during the long and short rainy seasons of year 2015 and 2016. The 12 genotypes showed different levels of resistance and sensitivity to insect infestations and attacks under field and controlled environmental conditions. Much as numerically high number of individuals were recorded, no significant (P>0.05) difference in the pest species population density was observed on the different cowpea varieties evaluated. Overall, out of the 12 genotypes evaluated, some (CNGKASB5-2-0-T, CNGKASA2-2-L, CNGKASG1-0-T, Mujilanga) were considered as moderately resistant or tolerant to pest attacks in the Ngandajika territory. These genotypes may be targeted by as reliable sources of resistance during breeding (selection) works aiming at developing cowpea seeds that are tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses in the Lomami Province.