Chickpea Pests: Identification, Prevention, and Organic Controls

ByStephen Albert

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Chickpeas are generally resilient plants, but a handful of pests can still limit growth, reduce pod set, or damage developing seeds. After many seasons growing chickpeas in raised beds, containers, and wide-row plantings, I’ve learned that successful pest management hinges on early identification, clean garden habits, and simple organic responses that protect both soil health and beneficial insects. This guide details the most common chickpea pests and the practices I rely on to keep damage low.

Why Pest Management Matters for Chickpeas

Chickpeas thrive in cool-season conditions, but pests tend to appear during warmer spells or when plants are stressed. A proactive approach helps you:

  • Protect flowers and pods at critical stages
  • Reduce aphid-borne disease risk
  • Maintain healthy, branching plants
  • Keep your garden ecosystem in balance

With thoughtful prevention and timely organic controls, chickpea pests rarely become serious.

Common Chickpea Pests and How to Identify Them

1. Aphids (Especially Black Aphids)

What they look like: Small, soft-bodied insects clustered on tender shoots, leaf undersides, and stems.
Damage: Curling leaves, sticky honeydew, stunted growth, reduced flowering.
Where I see them most: Warm spells in late spring.

2. Cutworms

What they look like: Fat, curled gray or brown caterpillars that hide in soil by day.
Damage: Seedlings cut off at soil level; irregular feeding on stems.
Where they appear: Beds with spring weeds or heavy organic debris.

3. Leaf Miners

What they look like: Small larvae tunneling between leaf layers.
Damage: Pale, winding trails across leaves; rarely fatal but can stress plants.
Where most common: Cool, humid springs.

4. Spider Mites

What they look like: Tiny red or yellow dots; fine stippling on leaves; webbing in severe cases.
Damage: Bronzed leaves, slowed growth—especially in hot, dry weather.
Where they thrive: Heatwaves and dry beds.

5. Thrips

What they look like: Slender insects that dart quickly when disturbed.
Damage: Silvery or speckled leaves, distorted new growth.
Where they appear: Dry stretches of late spring.

Prevention: The Best Defense Against Chickpea Pests

Start With Healthy Plants

Strong plants resist pests naturally.

  • Direct sow chickpeas for stronger stems and roots.
  • Plant early so flowering occurs before hot weather brings pest pressure.
  • Space plants 6–8 inches apart for airflow.

Maintain Clean Beds

In my experience, pests multiply where moisture or debris accumulates.

  • Weed regularly, especially early.
  • Avoid thick mulch until plants are 6–8 inches tall.
  • Remove plant debris from previous crops.

Encourage Beneficial Insects

Chickpea pests have natural predators:

  • Lady beetles (aphids)
  • Lacewings (aphids and thrips)
  • Parasitic wasps (leaf miners)
  • Predatory mites (spider mites)

Planting cilantro, dill, alyssum, or yarrow nearby strengthens natural pest control.

Water Wisely

  • Avoid overhead watering once plants reach 8–10 inches tall.
  • Keep soil moist early, then slightly dry during flowering.
    Too much moisture encourages aphids and fungal disease.

Organic Controls for Chickpea Pests

Aphids

  • Spray with a sharp jet of water every 2–3 days.
  • Apply insecticidal soap on heavy infestations.
  • Clip off severely infested tips and dispose of them.
  • Encourage lady beetles by allowing small early colonies—nature often balances them.

Cutworms

  • Place collars around seedlings (cardboard, plastic, or foil).
  • Clear weeds 2–3 weeks before planting.
  • Scratch the top inch of soil at dusk to expose hiding larvae.

Leaf Miners

  • Pinch off affected leaves to break the lifecycle.
  • Use row covers early in the season if pressure is high.
  • Encourage beneficial parasitic wasps by growing flowering herbs nearby.

Spider Mites

  • Rinse foliage thoroughly, especially leaf undersides.
  • Mist plants lightly during heatwaves to reduce dryness—mites hate humidity.
  • Apply neem oil in the evening if populations build.

Thrips

  • Use blue sticky traps to monitor activity.
  • Remove heavily damaged leaves.
  • Apply insecticidal soap if distortion continues.

Pest Monitoring Schedule

Early Spring

  • Inspect newly emerged seedlings for cutworms.
  • Check new growth for aphids once temperatures warm.

Mid Spring

  • Look closely for leaf miners; remove affected leaves.
  • Begin weekly underside-of-leaf inspections for mites.

Late Spring to Early Summer

  • Continue monitoring for aphids and thrips during warm spells.
  • Reduce overhead watering to limit pest attraction.

Final Thoughts

Chickpeas are naturally hardy, but early detection and simple organic practices keep pest issues from disrupting growth or reducing yields. With clean beds, proper spacing, and a garden that encourages beneficial insects, most pest problems stay manageable. Once you learn what to look for—and take action at the right moment—chickpeas become one of the easiest legumes to grow with minimal intervention.

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Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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