1. To know the status of leaf eating caterpillars in paddy ecosystem.
2. To know the status of natural enemies fauna of leaf eating caterpillars in paddy ecosystem.
3. Preparation of photographic catalogue of natural enemies fauna of paddy leaf eating caterpillars.

Correlation with abiotic factors.

NA

NA

NA

NA

Methodology of experiment:

Leaf eating caterpillars:

The observations on insect pest occurrence were recorded on 20 randomly selected clumps. Thus, incidence of leaf eating caterpillars per clump was worked out. The immature stage(s) of leaf eating caterpillars along with substrate were collected and brought to Biocontrol laboratory for the rearing. The emerging adult from laboratory reared culture collected and sent for further identification and confirmation up to species level.

Natural enemies:

To know the parasitization (egg/larval/pupal/adult) of paddy leaf eating caterpillars under field conditions, available stage(s) of leaf eating caterpillars along with substrate were collected and brought to Biocontrol laboratory for the further assessment of parasitization. The emerged parasitoids were collected separately to avoid assimilation of species. The date, place and stage of the host insect were also recorded. The collected parasitoids were sent for further identification and confirmation up to species level. Thus, per cent parasitization was worked out. To know the predator population of paddy leaf eating caterpillars under field conditions, available stages of predator on paddy leaf eating caterpillars were recorded on per clump basis. The collected specimens were brought to Biocontrol laboratory for the further assessment of hyper-parasitization. The emerged hyper-parasitoids were collected separately and sent for further identification and confirmation up to species level. The date, place and stage of the host insect were also recorded. Thus, predator population per clump was worked out.

To know the infection by the entomopathogenic fungi under field conditions; the infected stages were collected under natural condition and transferred in to sterile vial. The same vials were brought to Biocontrol laboratory for the further assessment of infection. The isolation and identification of the entomopathogenic fungi was made during present investigation. The photographic catalogue of target pests and available natural enemies fauna to be prepared. The data on incidence of paddy leaf eating caterpillars and its natural enemy fauna to be correlated with prevailing weather parameters. The ancillary observations were also recorded.