author(s)
Lalita Hanabar and MG Hegde

abstract
Maruca vitrata (Gayer) damage potential and economic injury levels on groundnut were worked out at MARS University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif 2016-17, through artificial release of larvae to individually potted groundnut plants. The methods of artificial infestation of larval population were followed to study the extent of loss caused due to different level of maruca larvae. The treatments include 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 larvae per groundnut plant and the each treatment was replicated thrice. The loss caused was compared with yield obtained in groundnut plant without larval release. The yield loss in plants released with one larvae was low and where as it was maximum in plants received 11 larvae. There existed a positive relation with M. vitrata larval population and yield loss. The highest yield reduction was recorded in treatment plants with 11 larvae per plant (2.55 g/plant) and which was statistically different from the remaining six treatments. Yield loss in groundnut crop at different larval density of M. vitrata indicated that when their population exceeds 2.0 larvae per plant causes economic yield loss and estimated economic injury level (EIL) was 2.5 larvae per plant.