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XVI. Peanut Insects
S. L.
Brown, D.C. Jones, and J. W. Todd
In 1996, Georgia
produced 1,439,150,000 lbs. of peanuts on 535,000 acres for an average yield of 2690 lbs
per acre. Farmers received an average of $0.27 per pound for a total crop value of
$388.5 million.
In most peanut
fields, insect pests were not a major yield-limiting factor in 1996. However, costs
of control did significantly increase total production costs in many fields.
Thrips pressure was
average to slightly above average in most fields. However, thrips feeding damage to
new growth was evident much longer into the season than the normal 4 to 6 weeks after
emergence. Thrips populations were high even in late July. This late feeding
pressure was thought to contribute to an extremely high incidence of tomato spotted wilt
virus in August and September.
A lesser cornstalk
borer outbreak occurred early in the season (May) and some seedling plants were
damaged. June rains helped reduce the threat from this insect and overall impact was
low compared to that seen in drier years. Wireworms continue to cause low levels of
damage in most Georgia peanut fields.
Three-cornered
alfalfa hoppers and leafhoppers were again a problem in 1996. With little research
available on these pests, yield losses are difficult to estimate but numerous observations
suggest that yield losses are common.
Foliage feeders were
of little significance in 1996. An outbreak of fall armyworm in the southwestern
corner of the state caused a few insecticide applications, but damage was generally very
light.
Losses and Control Costs Crop Year 1996 |
Rank |
Insect |
Cost of Control |
Damage |
Total |
1 |
Thrips |
$4,815,000 |
$1,170,000* |
$5,985,000 |
2 |
Wireworms |
2,461,000 |
1,677,000 |
4,138,000 |
3 |
Lesser cornstalk borer |
1,354,000 |
1,833,000 |
3,187,000 |
4 |
Southern corn rootworm |
861,000 |
1,092,000 |
1,953,000 |
5 |
Three-cornered alfalfa hoppers |
0 |
1,560,000 |
1,560,000 |
6 |
Leafhoppers |
27,000 |
640,000 |
667,000 |
7 |
Fall armyworm |
214,000 |
78,000 |
292,000 |
8 |
Velvetbean caterpillar |
144,000 |
117,000 |
261,000 |
9 |
Corn earworm |
161,000 |
78,000 |
239,000 |
| |
Total |
$10,037,000 |
$8,245,000 |
$18,282,000 |
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| *Does not include losses due to tomato spotted wilt virus which is transmitted by
thrips |
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Information Pertaining to Control of Major Pests in Georgia in
1996 |
Insect |
No. Units Needing Control |
No. Units Treated |
No. of Unit Applic. |
Avg. Cost Per Unit Treated |
Yield Loss on Units Treated |
Yield Loss on Units
Untreated |
Thrips |
428,000 |
482,000 |
1.0 |
$10.00 |
0 |
4,317,000 |
Wireworms |
80,000 |
107,000 |
1.0 |
$23.00 |
1,151,000 |
5,037,000 |
Lesser cornstalk borer |
34,000 |
59,000 |
1.0 |
$23.00 |
288,000 |
6,476,000 |
Southern corn rootworm |
43,000 |
37,000 |
1.0 |
$23.00 |
1,439,000 |
2,590,000 |
Three-cornered alfalfa hopper |
54,000 |
0 |
1.0 |
$5.00 |
0 |
5,757,000 |
Fall armyworm |
27,000 |
27,000 |
1.0 |
$8.00 |
0 |
288,000 |
Velvetbean caterpillar |
27,000 |
48,000 |
1.0 |
$3.00 |
0 |
432,000 |
Corn earworm |
11,000 |
32,000 |
1.0 |
$5.00 |
0 |
288,000 |
Leafhoppers |
107,000 |
5,000 |
1.0 |
$5.00 |
0 |
640,000 |
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