S. PADMAVATHI*, J. MANJUNATH, M. RAJASRI AND B.H. CHAITHANYA

Department of Entomology, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati-517 502.

ABSTRACT

A fixed plot survey was conducted to study the incidence of sucking insect pests and pink bollworm in cotton fields of Nandyal and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh during 2023-2024 at monthly intervals. Among the sucking insect pests, whitefly (Bemesia tabaci) population recorded 6.66 per three leaves at Dornipadu mandal in Nandyal district during August and crossed the ETL. Whereas, leafhoppers (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), thrips (Thrips tabaci) population was recorded 9.51,

8.75 per three leaves during August at Doddenakeri village of Adoni mandal in Kurnool district and crossed the ETL. Highest incidence of aphid (Aphis gossypii) population was recorded with mean of 6.59 per three leaves at Thumbaleedu village of Alur mandal in Kurnool district and did not crossed the ETL during crop growth period. Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) recorded 57.60 per cent green boll damage and 30.00 per cent locule damage at Kanakaveedu village of Yemmiganur mandal during January in Kurnool district.

KEYWORDS: Fixed plot survey, Amrasca biguttula biguttula, Aphis gossypii, Bemesia tabaci, Pectinophora gossypiella, Thrips tabaci, green boll damage, locule damage.