The evolution of resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins by insect pests is a major threat to Bt technology. However, the rate of resistance can be slowed with appropriate integrated insect resistance management (IRM) strategies. Surveys were conducted to identify alternate host species for Maruca vitrata (commonly called the legume pod borer or Maruca) that could serve as refuges for Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea in three West African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso). Survey sites included 25 in northern Ghana, 44 in northern Nigeria, and 52 in north-central and southwestern Burkina Faso. Alternate hosts of Maruca identified from plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family that showed signs of Maruca damage on cowpea tissues were collected and dissected. Larvae that were found during these dissections were reared to adult moths in the laboratory then identified to species. The alternate host plants including species of Crotolaria, Sesbania, Tephrosia, and Vigna were the most frequently encountered among sites and locations. Flowering and podding of these plants overlapped with flowering and podding of the nearby (~200 m) cowpea crop. Abundance of these wild hosts and overlapping flowering patterns with the cowpea crop in most locations have the potential to sustain ample numbers of Bt susceptible Maruca that will mate with possible resistant Maruca and deter resistance development. Further quantitative studies, however, are required from each location to determine if actual Maruca production from alternate hosts is sufficient for a PBR IRM strategy. If verified, this approach would be compatible with the high dose/refuge IRM strategy that includes alternate hosts and non-Bt crops as refuges.

虫害对苏云金芽孢杆菌（Bt）毒素的抗性演变是对Bt技术的主要威胁。但是，通过适当的综合抗虫管理（IRM）策略可以减慢抗药性。进行了调查，以查明Maruca vitrata（通常称为豆科豆荚蛀虫或Maruca）的其他寄主物种，它们可以作为三个西非国家（加纳，尼日利亚和布基纳法索）的Pod-Borer抗性（PBR）pea豆的避难所。调查地点包括加纳北部的25个，尼日利亚北部的44个，布基纳法索中北部和西南部的52个。马鲁卡的候补东道主从属于豆科的植物物种中鉴定出并对其进行了解剖，该植物在Mar豆组织上显示出马鲁卡损坏的迹象。在这些解剖中发现的幼虫在实验室饲养到成年飞蛾，然后鉴定出种类。在站点和地点中最常遇到的替代寄主植物包括Crotolaria，Sesbania，Tephrosia和Vigna。这些植物的开花和荚果与附近（约200 m）cow豆作物的开花和荚果重叠。在大多数地区，这些野生寄主的丰富和and豆作物的重叠开花模式有可能维持足够数量的of豆。Bt易感的Maruca会与可能的抗性Maruca交配并阻止抗性的发展。但是，需要从每个位置进行进一步的定量研究，以确定替代宿主的实际Maruca生产是否足以满足PBR IRM策略的需要。如果得到验证，该方法将与包括替代宿主和非Bt作物作为避难所的高剂量/避难所IRM策略兼容。