The incidence and abundance of sucking insect pests on groundnut

Abstract

Twelve species of insect pests were recorded on groundnut crop at Chintamani, (Chikkaballapur). The thrips, leafhoppers and aphids were considered as major sucking insect pests. Planthoppers, eurybrachid bug and pentatomid bug were considered as minor. The population of thrips and leafhoppers were more abundant on the crop during August and September, 2010. Results revealed that maximum activity was recorded during September and the correlation studies were made between the incidence of major sucking insect pests and select weather parameters. Thrips, leafhopper and aphids showed negative correlation with rainfall (r= 0.106, -0.056 and -0.134, respectively). Thrips showed positive correlation to both maximum (r=0.277) and minimum temperature (r=0.087). But leafhopper showed negative correlation for minimum temperature (r= -0.032) and positive correlation with maximum temperature (r= 0.314). In case of aphids’ negative correlation were observed with maximum temperature (r= 0.211) and positive correlation with minimum temperature (r= 0.165). With respect to sunshine hours the leafhoppers and aphids showed negative correlation (r= -0.024 and -0.457).