Earwigs are important in some parts of southern India, particularly in clay soils'

1
Module V Root and Pod Feeders
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
Lesson 4 Earwig
Earwigs are important in some parts of southern
India, particularly in clay soils. The adults
can easily be recognized by their unique forked
abdominal tip.
Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut
2
About Earwig Their eggs (Fig.) are laid in
clusters of 20-100, usually in the soil, and
sometimes inside damaged pods.
3
Crop Damage Both nymphs and adults bore into
tender developing pods and feed on the seeds.
Infested pods are prone to fungal infection.
Pod and seed damage by earwigs
4
Management This pest appears around pod
formation phase. In areas where this pest is
serious, application of soil insecticides such as
Carbofuran or Chlorpyriphos at 1 kg a.i./ha could
help in reducing the damage to the crop.
Irrigating the fields after the application of
the above soil insecticides will provide better
protection.
5
Module V Root and Pod Feeders
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

With this, the Lesson 4 on Earwigs in
groundnut concludes. Next, Lesson 5 is about
Wireworms in groundnut crop. Select Lesson
5 in Module V contents
Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut