CHAPTER VII 



INSECT PESTS 



By 

 FRANK SELMAN ARANT' 



The importance of insect damage to peanuts has not been generally 

 recognized, even by the peanut industry and agricultural leaders. Text- 

 books of economic entomology barely mention peanut insects, although 

 numerous species of pests attack the crop in the field and in storage. 

 These insects feed on the foliage and underground parts of the growing 

 plants, suck the juices of pods curing in the field, and infest peanuts and 



their products in storage and in 

 transit to markets. 



The control of insect pests of 

 peanuts is a serious problem. 

 Scores of species attack peanuts 

 throughout the world, and per- 

 haps a dozen are of major im- 

 portance in southeastern United 

 States. Information on the con- 

 trol of some of these forms is 

 sparse and in some instances the 

 economic status is controversial. 

 It is the purpose of this chapter 

 to summarize the available in- 

 formation on peanut insects and 

 to point out the need for addi- 

 tional information. Major em- 

 phasis is on destructive forms 

 and species of controversial 

 status in southeastern United 

 States. 



Department of Zoology-Entomology, Alabama Polytechnic 



Figure 1. Velvetbean caterpillar and fall 

 armyworm ragging the foliage of pea- 

 nuts. (The larva nearer the fingers in 

 the picture is the fall armyworm.) 



^ Frank Selman Arant is iiead, 

 Institute. 



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