Abundance of Major Insect Pests in Rice and Their Relation to Weather Parameters

The present investigation has been conducted in rice crop during Kharif 2021-22at Students’ Instructional Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.), India. The population of six major insect pests was recorded viz. Rice Yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulus), Rice Leaf folder (Cnapholocrocis medinalis), Rice ear head bug (Leptocorisa acuta), Brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens), White backed plant hopper (Sogatella furcifera)and Green leaf hopper (Nephotettix nigropictus) that cause most damage at different crop growth stages initiated after sowing till harvesting. The maximum population of yellow stemborer was observed on rice crop at 36th SMW (12.20 per cent dead heart). The infestation of dead heart was non-significant positively correlated with minimum, maximum temperature and RH% (0.433, 0.010 & 0.253 respectively) and negatively correlated with rain fall (0.081) whereas, significant negatively correlated with sunshine (0.552*). The maximum population white ear in 40th SMW (16.80 per cent). The infestation of white ear was non-significant negative correlation with minimum, maximum temperature (-0.062, -0.167) and positive correlation with RH & rain fall (0.244 & 0.173) whereas, significant positive correlation with sunshine (0.703*). Maximum leaf folder population was observed during 35th SMW (16.35 per cent). and infestation of leaf folder was non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature & RH (0.427 & 0.505) and negative correlation with maximum temperature, rainfall and sunshine (-0.079, -0.030 & -0.291). The maximum population was recorded of ear head bug in 38th SMW i.e., (10.90 ear head bug/hill respectively.). The infestation of ear head bug was non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature, RH, rainfall & sunshine (0.061, 0.176, 0.155 & 0.210) and negative correlation with maximum temperature (-0.407). The peak mean population of BPH was recorded in 37th SMW i.e., (11.25 brown plant hopper/hill respectively.) Itwas non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature & RH (0.463 & 0.357) and negative correlation with maximum temperature & rainfall (-0.066 & -0.088) whereas, significant negative correlation with sunshine (-0.597*), The peak mean population of WBPH was recorded in 38th SMW i.e., (12.80 white backed plant hopper/hill respectively.) It was non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature, RH & rainfall (0.300, 0.337 & 0.185) and negative correlation with maximum temperature (-0.300) whereas, significant negative correlation with sunshine (-0.094*) and the maximum population of green leaf hopper was recorded in 37th SMW i.e., (10.80 green leaf hopper/hill respectively.) with the infestation of green leaf hopperwas non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature & RH (0.479 & 0.369) and negative correlation with maximum temperature & rainfall (-0.077 & -0.120) whereas, significant negative correlation with sunshine (-0.633*).