Estimation of Yield Losses Due to Major Insect Pests of Groundnut

A field experiment was carried to estimate the yield losses due to the groundnut leaf miner Aproaerema modicella (Deventer), tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura (F), leafhoppers Empoasca kerri (Pruthi) and thrips Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood). The results showed the insect pests caused a significant reduction in plant height and other yield attributing characters. They caused a mean reduction of plant height (22%), primary branches (29.1%) reduction in pods/ plant (54.6%) and (44.5) reduction of kernels/ plant. There was a higher yield in the protected plots with 2050 kg/ ha due to spray of insecticides when compared to unprotected plots with 1123 kg/ ha, with a yield increase of 82.5%.