Role of rice plant and its extracts in attracting predatory mirid bugs, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter and Tytthus parviceps (Reuter) (Heraiptera: Miridae)

Healthy and hopper (BPH, WBPH and GLH) infested rice plants, different plant parts (leaf, stem and panicle) and rice plants of different ages (15, 40, 75 day old and harvesting stage plants) and their extracts were evaluated as the sources of synomones for attracting predatory mirid bugs viz., Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter and Tytthus parviceps (Reuter) to the plant ecosystem. Rice plant and its extracts served as source of synomone for the mirid bugs, Mirid bugs exhibited preference towards hopper damaged rice plants and their extracts, Brown planthopper (BPH) damaged rice plants and extracts were more attractive to the mirid bugs than white backed planthopper (WBPH) and green leafhopper (GLH) damaged plants and their extracts. Among plants of different ages, 75 day old plants and their extracts were preferred by mirid bugs to 40 day old, 15 day old and harvesting stage plants and their extracts. Rice leaf extracts was more attractive to the mirid bugs compared to stem and panicle extracts. Rice plant plays an important role in attracting mirid bugs to the plant system and mird bugs were able to distinguish the insect damaged and undamaged plants and recognize plants of suitable age.