Impact of elevated temperature on major pests of rice

Abstract

This Technical brief is a short summary of the results obtained from the field trials conducted at Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India to understand the Pest dynamics at elevated temperature. Among the major food crops, rice (Oryza sativa L.) forms the stable food for more than half of the world’s population. Among various constrains in rice production, losses due to pest is a major concern. Climate change resulting in increased temperature could impact crop insect pest populations in several complex ways. Although some climate change temperature effects might tend to depress insect populations, most researchers seem to agree that warmer temperatures in temperate climates will result in more types and higher populations of insects. Hence, it is important to understand the population growth of the important insect pests such as yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas) and brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) of rice. The results revealed that there was an inverse correlation between temperature and total life span, developmental time and also fecundity. However there was a positive correlation between temperature and net reproductive rate and development rate.