Seasonal Incidence of Insect Pests of Groundnut in Southern Telangana Zone

This study was conducted during the Rabi season (November 2023 to March 2024) at two locations IIOR-Rajendranagar and Narkhoda farms in Telangana, India. To assess the incidence and population dynamics of major insect pests and their correlation with weather parameters. Weekly pest monitoring included observations of leaf miners, leafhoppers, aphids, and Spodoptera litura across different crop growth stages. The results revealed distinct pest trends influenced by climatic factors. Leafhopper populations peaked during the 52 nd standard meteorological week (SMW) with correlations varying across farms. At Rajendranagar, leafhopper population dynamics were negatively correlated with minimum temperature (-0.436*) but positively correlated with morning relative humidity (0.387NS). Similar trends were noted for aphids, which showed significant positive correlations with maximum temperature (0.484*) and sunshine hours (0.641**). Spodoptera litura recorded its highest damage percentage (20%) by the 2 nd SMW at Rajendranagar, showing a significant negative correlation with minimum temperature (-0.602*). Leaf miner damage peaked at 6% during the 51 st SMW, demonstrating largely non-significant weather correlations. This study highlights the influence of environmental factors on pest dynamics in groundnut cultivation and underscores the need for location-specific pest management strategies. These findings offer critical insights for optimizing pest control measures and improving groundnut productivity in semi-arid regions.