Notes on major white grub species associated with groundnut crop ecosystem in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The major white grub species associated with groundnut crop were surveyed in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, India during May to August, 2015. Adults were collected in the vicinities of the groundnut ecosystem by utilizing light traps with mercury light bulb as source and manual scouting from trees on which they settled for feeding and mating. The survey revealed 12 major species of Scarabaeidae. Of these, six species belonged to Melolonthinae viz., Holotrichia serrata (Fabricius), Holotrichia consanguinea (Blanchard), Holotrichia reynaudi (Blanchard), Holotrichia fissa Brenske, Maladera insanabilis (Brenske), Schizonycha ruficollis (Fabricius), five species to Rutelinae viz., Anomala bengalensis (Blanchard), Anomala dorsalis (Fabricius), Adoretus lasiopygus Burmester, Adoretus testaceus (Hope), Adoretus versutus Harold and one species to Dynastinae viz., Phyllognathus dionysius (Fabricius) that were predominant. Adoretus testaceus was recorded for the first time from Rajasthan. Present studies have brought out illustrative diagnostic keys of major white grub species associated with groundnut crop ecosystem that can be used at field level, where the identification of the species is very important from management point of view.