ROLE OF ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT TRAPS IN MANAGEMENT OF RICE PESTS
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Date
1987
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
The ultra-violet light trap units used in this study were manufactured and supplied by Pest Control India, Pvt. Ltd. Bombay, The experimental area was located at the outskirts of the Main Rice Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Nawagam. A block of ten hectares of rice fields was selected, and the crop was planted during kharif seasons of 1981, 1982 and 1983 in the month of August. The traps were uniformly distributed in the area at the rate of one trap per hectare. An identical area was selected as control plot which was about a kilometer away from the fields where light traps were installed. Light traps were operated during the night hours beginning from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until the crop matured. The data of daily catches of different pest insects collected at the tracts were used to understand the effect of ultra-violet light traps on the rice pests. The results of the experiment revealed that the presence of the pests such as rice leaf folder, rice skipper, army worm, yellow rice borer, rice green leaf hopper, Thrown planthopper, white backed planthopper, white leaf hopper end rice grasshopper were attracted towards ultra-violet light trap. The population of brown planthopper, rice grasshopper, rice green leafhopper, white leafhopper, white backed planthopper was significantly lower in the light trapped area than that in the untrapped area. Moreover, the populations of larvas of rice leaf folder and yellow rice borer, the number of folded leaves and the number of dead hearts were significantly lower in light trapped area as compared to that in the untrapped area. Thus, ultra-violet light traps are helpful In reducing the population of rice pests under field conditions when adopted in larger areas. There was not much difference in the average yield of grain in the light trapped and untrapped areas. The monetary gain in light trapped area was not considerable. It would be worthwhile to mention here that if light trapping is adopted In large scale on co-operative basis, It will help in preserving some useful natural enemies and pollinators, reducing environmental pollution and health hazards arising out of pesticides used at the time of pest out-breaks.
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AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, A STUDY