Non-target Organisms Captured in the Sex Pheromone Traps of Yellow Stem Borer of Rice

Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) the yellow stem borer (YSB) is an important pest of rice. Besides, chemical control female sex pheromone traps are used to monitor YSB population and mating disruption. A study was undertaken to enumerate non-target organisms in the traps. Traps with sex pheromone lure and traps without any lure were fixed in the farmers’ fields and samples were examined for different organisms. A maximum of 21 species of organisms including three unidentified lepidopterans were collected from the traps where no lure was available where as 46 species of organisms including 5 species of unidentified Lepidoptera were recovered from the traps with lure. Spiders appeared in almost equal numbers in both baited and control traps. Natural enemies of different rice pests were also trapped.