7.2 Field pest identification, damage and IPM
This section provides a brief guide to common field problems of cocoa and is not exhaustive. The focus is on the key problems that are regularly sprayed in the field.
Application of pesticides is costly and may be risky, so farmers should always attempt to first ask the questions: “What am I trying to control and is it worth the money I will spend?”
These decisions will affect selection of the product and how it will be applied.
Some common problems that might be treated with pesticides include:
In younger cocoa
- Weeds
- Termites
- Defoliating insects (grasshoppers, beetles, etc.)
Principal crop production
- Black pod disease (Phytophthora spp. - especially P. megakarya in West Africa)
- The Moniliophthora diseases
- Mirid (capsid) bugs
- Sahlbergella singularis and Distantiella theobromae in Africa
- Helopeltis spp. in Asia
- Monalonion spp.in Latin America
- Cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella in South -East Asia
- Cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD)
More information on the individual insect pests, diseases, pesticides to control them, etc. is available on www.dropdata.org/cocoa .
A useful guide for identifying the major cocoa diseases and insect pests is available to download from Plantwise Knowledge Bank available Bahasa, English, French and Spanish for use on mobile phones or printable versions. [Sept 2025 CABI Pest and disease photoguide to cacao disorders ]
