Publication

Abstract : An extensive survey was conducted during the period of 2016 to 2018(July to October –Rainy season) on the occurrence of Groundnut Leafminer (GLM), Aproaerema modicella Deventer and its parasitoid fauna in different groundnut growing areas of Tamil Nadu. During 2016 -2017, the highest GLM damage was recorded in Kannarapettai Village of Cuddalore district (88.78%) followed by Omanthoor Village of Viluppuram district (85.20%). Similarly, in 2017-2018, the highest GLM damage was recorded in Kannarapettai Village of Cuddalore district (84.30%) followed by K.G. Kandigai village of Thiruvallur district (75.40%). Observations on the parasitization revealed maximum parasitization of GLM larvaein2016-2017. At Kannarapettai Village of Cuddalore district (36.67%) followed by Omanthoor Village of Viluppuram district (33.33%).In 2017-2018, the highest parasitization percentage of 30.00 percent was observed at Kannarapettai Village of Cuddalore district followed by K.G. Kandigai Village of Thiruvallur district (26.67%). Among the parasitoids recorded, Chelonus blackburni Cameron and Bracon sp. was found to be prevalent in all the groundnut growing areas during 2016 to 2018 with the parasitization percentage of 6.67 to 16.67 per cent and 3.33 to 6.67 per cent, respectively. The highest parasitization of 16.67 per cent by C. blackburni was recorded in Kannarapettai Village of Cuddalore district during 2016-2017. In general, parasitoid activity was found to increase with the increase in GLM population.