Studies on Seasonal Incidence of Major Sucking Pests of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) under Rainfed Conditions in Tamil Nadu, India

The survey was conducted to record the population dynamics of major sucking pests of groundnut such as Aphid, Aphis craccivora, Thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Leafhopper, Empoasca kerri during Rabi, 2019- Summer, 2020 and Kharif, 2020. Incidence of aphids was observed from the 52nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) but a considerable population was recorded from the 06th SMW to the 18th SMW. Thrips were high during the 4th SMW to the 18th SMW but the peak incidence of thrips was observed 16th to 18th SMW. The infestation of leafhoppers was observed from the 2nd SMW and the incidence increased and reached a peak during the 8th SMW. A considerable level of incidence was observed from the 6th SMW to the 17th SMW during Rabi, 2019- Summer, 2020. The relationship between the weather factors and major sucking pests during Rabi-Summer and Kharif seasons revealed the positive relationship between aphids and thrips with maximum temperature, minimum temperature and mean temperature and the negative relationship with maximum humidity, minimum humidity, mean humidity and rainfall. Leafhoppers had a non-significant relationship with weather factors but had a significant negative relationship with rainfall.