Influence of climate change on occurrence of green leafhopper (Empoasca kerri Pruthi) in pigeonpea

Investigations were carried out on population dynamics of green leafhopper (Empoasca kerri Pruthi) in unprotected pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) crop during kharif seasons of 2010 to 2014 at Gulbarga (Karnataka), India. The observations revealed that the average number of leafhoppers (both nymphs and adults) per 3 fully opened top leaf lets in the season (from 31^st to 48^th standard meteorological weeks) was 0.19, 0.58, 1.29, 1.61 and 3.04 during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively. This shows that this pest occurrence on pigeonpea is increasing from 2010 on wards and 2014 it was reaching to such an extent that pest damage to pigeonpea was severe led to leaf marginal yellowing, necrosis, drying and withering. There was strong significant negative correlation be-tween rainfall and leafhopper incidence and also relative humidity, while it was a significantly positive correlation with maximum temperature. This study reveals that the green leafhopper started attaining pest status which was not at all a pest of pigeonpea in this region.