Checklist of insect pests of sesame

An updated checklist of insect pests of sesame Sesamum indicum L. is provided, with 201 species included. Among these, the Cicadellidae with 20 species and Pentatomidae with 19 species are the predominant ones followed by Noctuidae (14), Miridae (11) and Chrysomelidae (10). Crop pest diversity analysis indicated that the foliage feeders were dominant group (54%) comprising both sucking pests (Orosius albicinctus, Nesidiocoris tenuis, Bemisia tabaci and Aphis gossypi) and defoliators (Antigastra catalaunalis, Spilosoma obliqua, Acherontia lachesis and A. styx). The pod feeding bugs (Elasmolomus sordidus, Clavigralla gibbosa, Nezara viridula and Dolycoris indicus) (16%) follow.