Geostatistical analysis of the rice insect pests and their natural enemy species in an intensive rice-growing field in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Despite the importance of controlling major rice insect pests, their spatial distribution patterns within crop fields remain unknown. However, they are influenced by their interactions with resources and their natural enemy species. This study examined the spatial distribution of rice insect pests and their natural enemy species in Myanmar's intensive rice-growing field across 56 rice fields cultivated in the 2018 monsoon season as trial plots. Geostatistical analysis has shown strong evidence of a spatial relationship between the major rice pests and their natural enemy species. In addition, the generated maps demonstrated the aggregated population dispersions for the major pest species and their potential natural enemy species. It is also evident that the dispersion of insect pest species varied with their potential natural enemy species. The distribution of the major insect pests on rice was often non-random. Thus, associations with the natural enemy species are important for effective pest monitoring and management, as they allow improved sampling and precise targeting control methods for insect pests.