Survival of natural enemies of rice insect pests during fallow period

Issue Date

10-2012

Abstract

The challenge is how to provide a system that will support the natural enemy population with resources such as food for the adults and habitat in which alternative preys are present between seasons of rice production. Furthermore, this process could be manipulated to enhance the survival, fecundity, longevity, and behavior of natural enemies and thus increase their effectiveness in regulating pest populations. Results showed that many species of natural enemies were present in the field, commonly composed of spiders such as Tetragnatha, Oxyopes, Pardosa and Callitricia. Other natural enemies include Micraspis, Cyrtorhinus, Conocephalus, Metioche, and parasitoids were also found abundant. these natural enemies could hardly sustain themselves during fallow period. Favorably, during rice fallow period, weeds were observed in bunds that include many species of broadleaves, grasses, and sedges. However, the importance of these weeds in conserving natural enemies must be evaluated. As grasses could serve as hosts of rice insect pests and as alternate hosts of some diseases, future activities will focus on evaluation of broadleaf weeds to provide alternative prey, host, flowers as source of pollen or nectar, as well as microhabitat for natural enemies in the form during non-rice periods.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

26

Issue

2

Page

200

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

NATURAL ENEMIES; FALLOW; SURVIVAL; PEST CONTROL; INSECT CONTROL

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