Population dynamics of planthopper insect, Tagosodes orizicolus performed using a light trap and the ratio of the population with climatic factors in Calabozo, Guárico State, Venezuela

Abstract

Population studies of planthopper insect, Tagosodes orizicolus Muir, were performed using a light trap located in the Centre of Agricultural Research INIA Calabozo in Bancos de San Pedro, Guárico state, Venezuela, located at 73 masl from 2000 to 2010. In an area classified as Dry Tropical Forest. The objectives of this study were to study the population dynamics of the insect T. orizicolus and the ratio of the population with six climatic factors, information provided by the Climatology section of the same center. Rice cultivation in Calabozo presents the species T. orizicolus the most abundant and important pest during the summer, reaching population peaks during the months of March and April in the years of study. Also, statistical significance between insect populations with the average temperature (p ≤ 0.0001) was found, no significant relationship resulting with low temperatures, high, humidity, evaporation and precipitation. We also described the methodology and forms to evaluate the sogata insect using a light trap in rice.

Keywords

• climatic variables
• delphacidae
• homoptera
• oryza sativa
• rice.