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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Lesson 1: Aphids

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests

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.

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

Virtual Academy for the Semi Arid Tropics

Course on Insect Pests of Groundnut

Module IV: Sucking Pests