UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Natural enemies often play a key role in regulating pest populations and maintaining ecological balance, thereby reducing the need for chemical insecticides. Disruption of this balance through indiscriminate pesticide use can lead to pest resurgence, secondary pest outbreaks, and resistance development. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is infested by more than 800 insect species. Out of which, 20 are of major economic significance. This study aimed to investigate the succession of major insect pests and their natural enemies in the rice ecosystem of Balaghat. The total 6 blocks i.e. Waraseoni, Lalbarra, Balaghat, Khairlanji, Lanji, Kirnapur were selected for study purpose. On the basis of overall mean, the maximum pest activities were recorded at late tillering and panicle initiation stage of crop during 2^nd fortnight of September and 1^st fortnight of October. The maximum percent infestation of stem borer and leaf folder were recorded during 1^st fortnight of October with 11.66 and 7.65 percent, respectively. The gall midge infestation was started from transplanting of crop and continues up to late tillering stage with highest peak 9.38% silver shoot during 1^st fortnight of September. In case of sucking pest GLH and BPH, the maximum nymph and adult populations were recorded during 1^st fortnight of September (1.48/hill) and 1^st fortnight of October (33.42/hill), respectively. The highest population of gundhi bug and army worm was recorded 2^nd fortnight of October at milking stage of crop with the value of 1.82 and 1.76, respectively. The maximum grasshopper (1.48/hill) and green horn caterpillar (1.42/hill) were noticed during 1^st fortnight of October. The maximum seasonal incidence stem borer, leaf folder, brown plant hopper, green leaf hopper, gundhi bug, army worm and green horn caterpillar were recorded at Lanji block of Balaghat. Whereas, the activity gall midge and grasshopper were noticed at Kirnapur and Khairlanji, respectively.