Twenty four varieties of cowpea were evaluated for field resistance toAphis craccivoraKoch under natural infestation at Ile‐lfe, Nigeria. The varieties EW/1, TVu 1037, TVu 2896, TVu 2994 and TVu 3000 showed the lowest field infestation. This may be explained by antixenosis with respect to varietal selectionorfeeding and antibiosis. Screenhouse studies showed that the mechanism of resistance in TVu 1037, TVu 2896 and TVu 3000 includes antibiosis, manifested as high mortality of nymphs, reduced lifespan and low fecundity of adults.