Influence of rice crop stage on the distribution of hymenopteran parasitoids of insect pests

A total of 43 insect parasitoid species belonging to fourteen families (Aphelinidae, Braconidae, Ceraphronidae, Diapriidae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eurytomidae, Ichneumonidae, Megaspilidae, Mymaridae, Platygasteridae, Proctotrupidae, Pteromalidae, Trichogrammatidae) has been documented in the rice ecosystem using yellow pan trap. The observations were made at four important stages of rice crop like early tillering, active tillering, booting and panicle development. The parasitoids were also compared with the occurrence of sixteen insect pests that were recorded simultaneously in each stage of the crop. The result revealed that, there is a significant difference in the occurrence of parasitoids according to the stage of the crop and insect host availability. This understanding help in the introduction of specific parasitoids at respective stages for effective biocontrol.