Population Dynamics of Rice Insect Pests through Light Trap Catches and Its Relation to Abiotic Factors in High Altitude Tribal Zone of Seethampeta in Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies were carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Seethampeta in Andhra Pradesh during the kharif season for three consecutive years starting from 2017 to 2019 on the population dynamics of insect pests occurring in paddy and also to assess the influence of weather parameters on insect pests. The insect pests observed in the light trap catches were, Yellow stem borer, Gall midge, Leaf folder, Green leafhopper, Plant hopper (BPH/WBPH) and Grasshoppers. The light trap catches of rice insect pests were recorded at weekly interval during 32nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) to 52nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) and the data were correlated with the weather parameters. The results revealed that more number of adults of Yellow stem borer were noticed during the year 2019 from 45th to 48th SMW and the correlation studies revealed that that maximum temperature, minimum and maximum relative humidities had significant positive influence and regression value of R2 (743, 638 and 726 during 2017, 2018 & 2019). The population of gall midge was negligible during the year 2017 and 2018. Whereas, in 2019 peak was notice during 38th SMW (15 No’s) maximum relative humidity has positive relation with increase in the gall midge population. Leaf folder adults were trapped more in the light traps during the year 2019 with peak catches of 11.00 No’s on 42nd SMW and were positively correlated with maximum temperature, minimum and maximum relative humidities. Similarly, leafhopper, brown leaf hopper, grass hoppers were positively correlated with the relative humidity.