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.