Several species of insects feed on groundnut sap' Among these, jassids, aphids, and thrips are commo

1
Module IV Sucking Pests
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

• Several species of insects feed on groundnut
  sap. Among these, jassids, aphids, and thrips are
  common in all groundnut-growing areas.
• Their economic importance as direct pests is not
  clear. However, the direct damage to the crop by
  these sucking pests is not much.
• In contrast, the potential importance of aphids
  and thrips as vectors of virus diseases should
  never be underestimated.

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut
2
Adults reproduces without mating (in India) and
are capable of producing about 100 nymphs in
their 5-30 day life span. These nymphs are dark
brown and turn into shiny-black adults in about
10 days.
3
When the population density in the colony
reaches a certain limit, winged individuals are
found among the wingless forms. They fly away to
form new colonies.
4
Crop Damage Nymphs and adults suck sap from the
tender growing shoots, flowers (Fig.), and pegs,
causing stunting and distortion of the foliage
and stems.
5
Crop Damage They secrete a sticky fluid
(honeydew) on the plant, which is turned black by
a fungus. The blackened honeydew is called sooty
mould. Severe outbreaks are sporadic but
possible during drought periods.
6
Crop Damage Aphids are potentially more
important in transmitting virus
diseases. Fortunately, the most important
aphid-transmitted viruses like peanut stripe
virus and the groundnut rosette virus complex
(Fig.) are either restricted in distribution or
do not occur in South Asia.
Groundnut plants affected by groundnut rosette
virus
7
Management Heavy rains reduce aphid population
densities and favor the development of the fungal
diseases that kill these insects. Aphids are
particularly susceptible to predators like
coccinellids, syrphids, lacewings, and a number
of parasites.
8

• Management
• Apply Dimethoate at 200-250 mL a.i./ha but only
  under
• drought conditions,
• when the crop is young i.e. less than 30
  days after emergence,
• all terminal buds are infested with
  aphids, and no ladybirds, syrphids, or
  lacewings can be found.

9
Module IV Sucking Pests
Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics
The Lesson 1 on Aphids in groundnut crop
concludes. The last Lesson in this Module is
about Jassids on groundnut. Select Lesson 2 from
Module IV contents
Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut