Prevalence, prey preference and predatory potential of Paederus fuscipes Curtis and Ophionea sp. in rice

Field-cum-laboratory studies were carried out on the prevalence, prey preference and predatory potential of staphylinid beetle, Paederus fuscipes Curtis, and carabid beetle, Ophionea sp., in rice. The predatory beetle population was significantly higher in rabi compared to that of kharif season and P. fuscipes population was higher than that of Ophionea sp, in both the seasons. Within the season, both the beetles were significantly more abundant at reproductive stage compared to vegetative stage. The two predators preferred brown planthopper and white backed planthopper nymphs to other prey species tested. The predatory potential was 9.5 BPH nymphs and 1 WBPH nymphs per day for P. fuscipes, and 10.2 BPH nymphs and 9 WBPH nymphs per day for Ophionea sp.