Aproaerema modicella (Deventer)

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea: Gelechiidae

Common name

Groundnut leafminer

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Groundnut, soybean, and to a small extent, redgram. Psoralea corylifolia is an alternate host.

The larva is green with a dark head and mines into young leaves and also folds and brings together adjacent leaves and feeds on the leaf tissues from inside. Small, blister like mines are seen on upper surface of leaves near the midrib and affected leaves turn brown, rolled, shriveled and dried. The adult moth is very small, dark brownish with a conspicuous pale white spot on the anterior margin of fore wings.

Pest status

A major pest of groundnut all over South India.

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