Measures to Control Jassids Pest in Groundnut Crop

5 March 2024

Jassids are typically small, only 2-3 millimeters long, with wedge-shaped bodies and prominent eyes. They have two pairs of membranous wings, which they hold roof-like over their abdomens when at rest. Their hind legs are well-developed, allowing them to jump great distances, hence the name "leafhopper." They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to pierce plant tissues and extract the sap. This feeding activity can damage the plant and lead to stunted growth, wilting, and even death in severe cases.

Scientific name: Empoasca kerri

Type: Sucking Pest

Target: Leaves, Stem and Flowers

Damage: Yellowing of leaves, Curling of leaves

Identification:

Egg: Jassid eggs are small, elongated, and white or yellowish in color.
Nymph: Nymphs resemble wingless adults, but are smaller and lack fully developed wings. They typically go through five molting stages as they grow.
Adult: Adults are the fully mature stage of jassids. They have two pairs of transparent wings, a triangular head, and large prominent eyes.

Environmental favorable factors for pests/Diseases:

Temperature: Jassids thrive in warm and dry conditions. Their development is faster at temperatures between 25-30°C (77-86°F).
Humidity: Low humidity levels (around 50-60%) are also favorable for jassids. High humidity can increase fungal growth, which can harm jassid populations.

Symptoms of Pest/Disease:

Whitening of veins: The first sign of jassid infestation is often the whitening of the veins on the underside of young leaves. This is caused by the jassids sucking sap from the veins.
Yellowing and wilting: As the infestation progresses, the leaves will start to turn yellow and wilt. This is because the jassids are removing essential nutrients from the leaves.
V-shaped yellowing: In severe cases, the tips of the leaflets will turn yellow in a V-shape. This is a characteristic symptom of jassid damage and is known as hopper burn.

Measures to control Pests/Diseases:

Products	Technical Names	Dosages
Thioxam	Thiamethoxam 25 % wg	80 gm/acre
IMD-70	Imidacloprid 70 % WG	2-3gms per 15 ltr water
Imd-178	Imidacloprid 17.8 % SL	100 -150 ml per acre