Natural enemies of rice insect pests in rice-wheat cropping system of northern Indo-gangetic plains

Roving field surveys were conducted during wet seasons of 2000–2005 to assess natural enemy diversity prevalent on rice in rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) of ten districts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand. The results revealed that as many as 31 species of predators belonging to 22 genera under 16 families of 7 orders were recorded in traditional and basmati rice growing belt under RWCS. Damselflies, long horned grasshopper, bugs, wolf and lynx spiders were recorded in high numbers, whereas lady bird beetles, ground beetles, crickets, ripple bugs, orb spiders and long jawed spiders were recorded in moderate numbers. Sac spiders, crab spiders, earwigs and rove beetles were recorded in low numbers. Among parasitoids, 31 species including 6 unidentified species belonging to 19 genera under 11 families of Hymenoptera were recorded. Genus Xanthopimpla, Trichogramma and Telenomus were recorded in high numbers, whereas Bracon, Cotesia, Stenobracon, Amuromorpha, Temelucha, Anagrus, Tetrastichus and Anastatus were recorded in moderate numbers. Genus Isotima, Oligosita, Brachymeria, Elasmus, Goniozus and Aphanogmus were recorded in low numbers.