Mungbean Sucking Pests

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is an important pulse crop valued for its high protein content, short growth duration, and ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, its productivity is often reduced by the attack of sucking insect pests, which cause direct damage by feeding on plant sap and indirect damage through the transmission of plant diseases. The major sucking pests of mungbean include whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), jassid (Empoasca kerri), aphid (Aphis craccivora), and thrips (Megalurothrips usitatus).The occurrence and abundance of these pests vary with crop growth stages and environmental conditions. Generally, sucking pests begin appearing during the vegetative stage and reach peak populations during flowering and pod formation. Temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall play a significant role in determining their seasonal incidence.Whitefly is one of the most destructive pests of mungbean. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves, causing yellowing, curling, and reduced plant vigor. More importantly, whiteflies transmit Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV), a serious disease that can cause severe yield losses.