Application of vetiver grass Vetiveria zizanioides: Poaceae (L.) as a trap plant for rice stem borer Chilo suppressalis: Crambidae (Walker) in the paddy fields

Abstract

Rice is an important staple food in China and it is at risk of attack by rice striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis, which occurs in most rice growing areas. In recent years, severe C. suppressalis outbreaks have been observed in China mainly due to changes in the rice cultivation systems, wide adoption of hybrid varieties and resistance to the dominant insecticides. Management relies primarily on chemical insecticides and resistance is an important contributing factor in these outbreaks. As a result, food safety of agricultural produce is reduced and the ecological and environmental integrities are threatened as well. Recently, environmentally friendly pest management measures, such as trap plants have been introduced for C. suppressalis management and this method can greatly reduce insecticide use. Our previous results indicated that the vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) is a dead-end trap plant that can effectively attract the adult females of C. suppressalis to lay eggs on it but where larvae are unable to complete their life cycle. This paper further explored the application of vetiver grass as a trap plant to manage C. suppressalis in the paddy fields. This environment-friendly tool can not only reduce C. suppressalis populations, it can also increase the diversity and abundance of natural enemies that can provide better environmental conditions for rice production.