Population Dynamics of Major Sucking Pests Infesting Rabi Groundnut in West Bengal

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out at the Central research Farm, Gayeshpur, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during rabi 2021-2022 to study the seasonal incidence of the major sucking pests infesting the summer groundnut. The silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.), jassids (Empoasca kerri Pruthi), black aphids (Aphis craccivora Koch) and flower thrips (Megalurothrips usitatus Bagnall) were considered as the major sucking pests; B. tabaci was first observed on the 49th standard meteorological week, whereas M. usitatus, E. kerri and A. craccivora were first seen during the 5th, 6th and 7th standard meteorological week. The whitefly population showed a significant negative correlation (-0.586) with average temperature, while the thrips showed a significant negative correlation (-0.578) with average relative humidity.