Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

A roving survey on thrips incidence in groundnut-growing mandals of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, was conducted during rabi 2025-2026 to assess thrips incidence and associated foliar damage in major groundnut-growing mandals of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. The survey covered three mandals, namely Tekkali, Santabommali and Kotabommali, with three villages selected from each mandal. Observations were recorded during the vegetative, flowering and pegging stages of the crop. In each village, five farmers' fields were selected, and the thrips population was assessed from the terminal growing portion of plants. Foliar damage was estimated on the basis of visible feeding symptoms and expressed as the percentage of damaged leaves. Thrips incidence and foliar damage varied among villages, mandals and crop growth stages. During the vegetative stage, Nimmada village of Kotabommali mandal recorded the highest thrips population of 3.98 thrips per top shoot per plant and the highest foliar damage of 11.60%. During the flowering stage, Tallavalasa village of Santabommali mandal recorded the highest thrips population of 12.35 thrips per top shoot per plant and the highest foliar damage of 20.30%. During the pegging stage, Tallavalasa again recorded the highest thrips population of 8.27 thrips per top shoot per plant and foliar damage of 14.36%. Pooled observations showed that thrips incidence increased from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage and declined moderately during the pegging stage. A similar pattern was observed for foliar damage. Kotabommali mandal recorded higher pooled thrips incidence and foliar damage during the vegetative and flowering stages, whereas Santabommali mandal recorded higher infestation during the pegging stage. The findings provide baseline information on thrips incidence in groundnut-growing areas of Srikakulam district and may support location-specific monitoring strategies.