Arthropod biodiversity and conservation biological control in rice

Abstract

Rice ecosystems have a rich and diverse fauna of arthropods which varied in field in different ecological conditions. Beside the phytophages and detritivores, a large number of predators and parasitoids also exist in the rice ecosystem. Biological control has shown a great potential for reducing the dependence of crop protection on chemical control. Among the predators, spiders are highly abundant in rice fields which feed on variety of insect pests. The organisms present in the rice ecosystem are linked by food web which can help IPM because they clarify the functional interaction between populations. Conservation biological control can be achieved by reducing the pesticide-induces mortality of natural enemies and habitat manipulation to improve natural enemies fitness and effectiveness in the rice fields. There is a plethora of natural enemies in rice ecosystem and conservation biological control plays a major role in reducing pests. The identification of safer chemical pesticides and supplemental food of natural enemies is still needed.