The biology of the rice black bug and farmers' knowledge, perceptions and management practices in the Bicol region

Issue Date

10-2008

Abstract

The life cycle and ecology (feeding habit and behaviour, life table, population dynamics, abundance, distribution, natural enemies and food web, and alternate hosts plants) of the newly established pest of rice, the black bug Scotinophara sorsogonensis Barrion et.al. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and the farmers' knowledge, perceptions and management practices in the Bicol Region were documented. S. sorsogonensis has not attained pest status level yet but current data revealed that the rice black bug may become a threat to rice production both in rainfed areas prone to water stress and irrigated lands when bacterial leaf blight-susceptible varieties are grown. Bicol farmers have different views and perceptions about the rice black bug and most of them relied on chemical control as it was the "do-it-all tactic" known to them. Based on interview, chemical spray ranged from 1 to 4 times per cropping season. In areas with rice black bug concerns, the following activities are proposed, namely, (1) removal of left-over stubbles just after harvest to get rid of the breeding sites, (2) plowing and flooding the field if applicable, (3) burning the stubbles, (4) practice duck herding, (5) provision of good irrigation system as rice black bugs do not survive well in well drained fields, (6) use of varieties with resistance to bacterial leaf blight, (7) adopt direct seeded method of planting over transplanting to expose rice black bugs to dessication, (8) follow synchronous planting, (9) do intensive light trapping at the barangay or town level 3-4 days before and after full moon when clear skies prevail, and use captured black bugs as organic fertilizer once decomposed in buried pits, and (10) use pesticides only when needed.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

22

Issue

2

Page

205

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SCOTINOPHARA; PESTS; PLANT PESTS; LIFE CYCLE; ANIMAL ECOLOGY; PHILIPPINES

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