Population dynamics of key insect-pests of groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)

This research was carried out during the kharif season of 2022 at the Agricultural Research Farm of Baba Raghav Das Post Graduate College, Deoria. Groundnut var. Deepika was chosen for experiment and sown under large plot technique experimental design. The population of major insect pests were recorded on weekly basis. The result for defoliators revealed that the incidence of grasshopper initiated during 29th SMW and reached to its peak in 36th SMW, and the population exhibited significantly negative correlation with minimum temperature, while exhibiting a positive correlation with Rhmax, Rhmin and rainfall. The observation taken for epilachna beetle showed its initial incidence in 29th SMW, and reached to its peak in 30th SMW and the correlation studies showed the significant and negative correlation with rainfall, while a non-significant positive correlation with Rhmax and Rhmin. The leaf miner’s incidence in groundnut began in 31st SMW and attained maximum value in 34th SMW, followed by a decline to a minimum level of 0.08 per trifoliate during 37th SMW. It showed a significantly negative correlation with Rhmin. The data for the sucking insect pests showed that the first appearance of whitefly was observed during 31st SMW and reached to its peak in 36th SMW, while in case of leaf hopper, it appeared in 33rd SMW with its peak in 36th SMW. The whitefly population was negatively correlated with both maximum and minimum temperature, whereas positively correlated with maximum Rhmax, Rhmin and rainfall. The leaf hopper showed a positive correlation with maximum temperature, minimum temperature and Rhmax but negatively correlated with Rhmin and rainfall.