Rice insect pests and their natural enemies complex in direct seeded and transplanted rice (Oryza sativa) of Chidambaram areas of Cuddalore, India

Rice is the cereal grain that feeds half the planet. Rice fields are economically important as well as ecologically valuable. Rice fields are one of the biggest ecosystems that can be found in the tropics, including diverse insect pests and their natural enemies. In this view, rice varieties were sown in experimental plots of Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. The values are found significant at 5% level. To monitor the pest and natural enemies by using net sweeping and yellow pan trap method was used. The results showed that the maximum number of yellow stem borer was observed in the direct-seeded rice variety of CR Dhan 209 (7.33) and the leaf folder population was maximum in the direct-seeded rice variety of CR Dhan 204 (7.33). The peak population of grasshopper and green leafhopper was recorded in the transplanted rice variety of CR Dhan200 (11.33), CR Dhan 209 (8.00). The values were found significant at 5% level. The maximum number of Braconidae was observed in direct-seeded rice variety of CR Dhan 205 (3.66), and Ichneumonidae was recorded the highest number of direct-seeded and transplanted rice in the variety of CR Dhan 202 (3.00). The peak population of Trichogrammatidae was recorded in direct-seeded rice of CR Dhan 207 (3.66). The presence of Platygastridae was high in the transplanted rice variety of CR Dhan 201 (8.66), respectively. Among the rice ecosystems, more insect pests and crop damage were noticed in direct-seeded rice more than the transplanted rice