Effect of Intercropping on the Population of Bihar Hairy Caterpillar and Leaf Damage in Groundnut

An intercropping trial of groundnut with various crops was carried out to study the relative incidence of Bihar caterpillar, Spilaractia obliqua and its resultant damage to groundnut leaves. Twelvegroundnut based intercrops such as pigeonpea, green gram, black gram, soybean, sunnhemp, sesamum, niger, okra, maize, sorghum and pearl millet were compared with groundnut as sole crop for the relative infestation of Bihar hairy caterpillar and the % groundnut leaf damage. On the basis of three year data, the groundnut when intercropped with pigeonpea had lowest incidence as well as lowest percentage of damage whereas the groundnut sown with sesamum showed maximum incidence and % leaf damage. The remaining groundnut intercrops showed intermediate type of population and leaf damage during different years.