Groundnuts

Pests of Field Crops in Southern Africa

GROUNDNUTS

(Arachis hypogeae, Fabaceae)

Text Box: Various leaf-eating caterpillar species may be found on groundnuts, but they seldom do much harm, or require control measures. Amongst them are the “cotton leafworm”, Spodoptera littoralis, African bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera and hairy caterpillars of the tiger moth (Arctiid) family, Diacrisia spp. If anything, they may be responsible for causing defoliation in a small patch of groundnuts, and these may be dealt with by spot sprays of a contact insecticide. In addition, the elegant grasshopper, Zonocerus elegans, may be found causing some defoliation. TOP

Text Box: See general section. Termite damage to groundnuts is a problem particularly in the drier regions. The importance of this and other soil pests in groundnuts is that by damaging the developing subterranean pods, they increase the chances of fungal infections occurring in the peanuts. Some of these produce aflatoxins, which are a serious food health risk to humans and livestock. TOP

Þ False Wireworms (see general section)

Þ Groundnut Hopper

Þ

Þ Whitegrubs (see general section)

Þ

Spodoptera littoralis caterpillar on groundnut.

Termite damage to pods and stem.