Effectiveness of Arthropod Predators Against Cotton Insect Pests - A Review

摘要

The complex of cotton pests and their arthropod predators differ in each agroecosystem where cotton is grown. Although native predators have not been surveyed, identified and their potential studied; spiders, mites and insects (chrysopids, syrphids, ants, true bugs, thrips and coccinellid beetles) are presently considered major predators. Their survival, growth, multiplication, dispersal and efficiency are influenced mainly by the environment, cultural practices, cotton-prey-predator relationship, biological competitors and pesticide applications. Whenever less disruptive pest control measures were employed and favourable conditions for the survival, conservation and augmentation are provided, arthropod predators can contribute substantially to suppress pest populations, and subsequently, used in biological control. However, research on practicability and economics of bio-intensive IPM should be addressed in the future so that farmers may be able to use these technologies with minimum financial resources and technical knowledge.