The diversity and abundance of Lepidoptera pest in the Rice Fields of Sholavandan, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

A field observation was conducted to monitor the pest surveillance of paddy, which causes economic damage to the farmers. Lepidopteran pests such as Yellow stem borer, White stem borer, Cut worm, Case worm, and Armyworm are significant contributors to crop damage and yield loss. The study took place from October to March in 2021 and 2022, covering two seasons. Five fields located three kilometers apart were selected for the study. Insects were collected at fortnightly intervals, identified, and subjected to bio-monitoring. The analysis included the abundance richness, Shannon index, Simpson index, and evenness of Lepidopteran insects, comparing their diversity between the two seasons.