Economic losses caused by mole cricket Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa on some vegetable plants and agricultural crops

Abstract

The study was conducted to estimate the economic losses caused by insect mole cricket Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa on some agricultural crops and Potato tubers in collage of Agriculture- Abu Ghraib season 2012-2013. Study showed Mole cricket caused percentage of infestation in spring potato tubers variety Luciana reached to 11.61% and the percentage of loss in weight of tubers reached 18.88%. The study showed that addition of animal manure (organic fertilizer) to the soil when planting potatoes in the autumn increased the incidence of infestation and the number of tunnels caused by mole cricket which led to from increased economic losses. When matured potato tubers were left for a longer period in the soil percentage of infestation by mole cricket was increased and resulted in an increasing of the economic losses on potato tubers. It was evident from the study that the injury by mole cricket different plant depends on the growth of plants and the development of radical totaling stage where the focus of infection insect during the month of April and the percentage of lost plants 22.5 % on cowpeas, sunflower 20.5 % and okra 18 %, watermelon 17.7 % and cucumbers 15.34% During the month of May and June the percussion pumpkin 14 % and some bush 24 % plants and the lack of tunnels insect during July and August, plants and emerged injury on the autumnal cucumber plants during September and October and the peas and some jungle plants during January and February and March, and that there is significant correlation between the number of tunnels the insect and the percentage of loss in different economic hosts.