Arthropod Predators And Insect Pest Control (A case study Markurdi Benue State)

Arthropod Predators And Insect Pest Control (A case study Markurdi Benue State)

Text Of The Chapter

Title page………………………………………………………………..i

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement ………………………………………………………v

the contents table ……………………………………………………….vi

Abstract viii.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

the study’s history

Description of the issue

aims of the research

Research Issues

Research Theories

importance of the research

Goals of the research

Constraints of the research

Term definitions

Apartment Two

Introduction

2.1 Conceptual foundation

2.2 Empirical framework

Section Three

Introduction

3.1 Research approach

3.2 Study’s sample size

3.3 Sample size and sampling methods

3.4 Data Collection Techniques

3. 5 Research Tools

3.6 Reliability of the tool

Instrument Reliability, Section 3.7

3.8 Data analysis technique

Chapiter Iv

Introduction

4.1 Analysis and display of data

4.2 Hypothesis testing

Chapiter 5

Conclusion, Recommendation, And Summary

5.1 Synopsis

5.2 The Verdict

5.3 Recommendation

References

Abstract

Pest bug species are those that cause harm or are bothersome. They harm or damage grain in storage as well as field crops. Insect pests also prey on domesticated animals and humans. Arthropod predators are members of the phylum Arthropoda and are frequently helpful in reducing insect problems. Members of the phylum Arthropoda that capture and consume prey are known as arthropod predators. They typically outweigh their prey in size and kill or eat a lot of prey throughout the course of their lifetime. Lady beetles, spiders, praying mantids, damsel bugs, lace wings, syrphid flies, and others are examples of arthropod predators. They can eat insects that are harmful to plants, such as aphids, moths, mites, butterflies, brown plant hoppers, etc. In some instances, these arthropod predators have shown to be quite successful in biological control programs for insect pests. Examples include the control of the cottony-cushion scale by the cocinellid beetle, Radolia cardinalis (a lady bird beetle), and Icerya purchasi (a scale bug), which was a citrus pest in California, U.S.A. Wolf spiders have also been employed successfully in Indonesia to eradicate the brown plant hopper insect that affects rice crops.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 The study’s context

Arthropod species can be found everywhere, from the soil’s surface to the tops of trees. Since many are minuscule or buried beneath soil or plant tissue, only a small portion are regularly detected. Pest species are quite uncommon. Whether they infiltrate our houses or graze on plants or plant products, they cause excruciating bites or stings. The majority of insects and other arthropods are helpful and perform a number of crucial tasks in the garden. Because urban habitats are frequently characterized by disturbance, the quantity of beneficial insects, especially predators, is frequently constrained there. Use of pesticides and other chemicals, air pollution, and wind-borne dust are disturbance factors that may all increase the mortality of beneficial arthropods. Residential environments frequently lack sufficient numbers of vital resources like food, nesting locations, and shelter that help natural enemies reproduce and survive, such as these resources. Some typical methods are used to protect them in residential landscapes, and these methods may reduce the need for insecticides while boosting the natural management of arthropod pests.

The goal of traditional biological control is to lower pest numbers by reuniting old foes through the introduction of predators from the region of insect pest origin because many arthropod pests are alien. Common predator arthropods that impede residential landscaping and gardens include lady beetles, green lace wings, and spiders. In general, predators are larger than their victims, devour a huge number of prey items over the course of their lifetime, and feed on a diverse variety of species. Predators can be either young or adult, and they frequently leave no physical signs of their attacks in their wake. However, these arthropod predators frequently assist in maintaining control over aphids, spider mites, caterpillars, and other insect pests.

1.2 A description of the issue

Insects first appeared on this planet about 250 million years ago, whereas humans only appeared one million years ago. As a result, in actuality, humans are insects’ competitors rather than the other way around (Parabhoi, Sahu, & Kumari, 2017). But because humans are at the top of the evolutionary food chain, their quality of life is actually better than that of any other organism, thus in that sense, they are competitors with insects. An organism that actively threatens human welfare is referred to as a pest. About 2% of the approximately 8 million insects are pests, with the remaining either being helpful or harmless (Parabhoi, Sahu, & Kumari, 2017). However, the agricultural loss caused by these 2% of insects is between 10% and 15%. An estimated 40% of the world’s food and fiber losses are attributed to pests, primarily weeds and insect diseases, of which 15% are insects and mites.(Parabhoi, Kumari, Sahu, 2017).

Effects of insect pests are one of the many difficulties farmers face. Insect pests can have a negative impact on the quality of farm produce. Crops’ ability to flourish is one of the many effects that insect pests have on them. The farmers’ organic and chemical crop growing techniques are ineffective in this situation. Farm food output is decreased as a result of insect pests, and farmers also experience spoilage. Arthropods both hunt on and serve as a control for nuisance insects. This study aims to close this knowledge gap about the rate of arthropod predators in Makurdi, Benue State. More specifically, this study will establish the value of arthropods and the connection between their role as insect predators and the management of insect pests.

1.3 Study’s objectives

This study’s main objective is to investigate how arthropod predators affect the management of insect pests. In particular, the study aimed to

Analyze the frequency of arthropod predators in agricultural areas.

Look into the benefits that arthropod predators provide for farmers.

Look at how the presence of arthropod predators affects the management of insect pests.

1.4.1 Research issues

How common are arthropod predators in Makurdi’s agricultural areas?

What benefit do arthropod predators provide for farmers who raise crops?

Does the prevalence of arthropod predators and insect pest control go hand in hand?

Research Hypothesis No. 1.5

The prevalence of arthropod predators and insect pest control do not significantly correlate.

1.6 Importance of the research

This research is being done to better understand the phenomenon of insect pest management and arthropod predators. The farmer benefits from it since it informs them of the advantages of arthropod predators. The study is advantageous economically because it enables researchers to create or enhance insect pest management strategies by utilizing the advantages of arthropod predators. Additionally, this work adds to the wealth of knowledge on insect pest control in zoology and serves as a reference for additional investigations.

1.7 Study’s purview

The intended audience for this study, which focuses on controlling insect pests, is farmers. This is due to the fact that farmers frequently deal with and are negatively impacted by insect pest. The study will additionally concentrate on farmers in Makurdi, Benue state. The study can be expanded to include farmers from Makurdi through further research.

1.8 Study’s limitations

One weakness of this study is its exclusive focus on farmers. This is so that groups of people outside of farmers can also be impacted by insect pest activity. Furthermore, time is a constraint on this project. This is because it was difficult for the researcher to gather data from farmers because some of the respondents were reluctant to share.

1.9 Terms explained

Insects make up the majority of the arthropod phylum and are a pancrustacean hexapod invertebrate.

Pest: an animal or destructive insect that preys on animals, crops, food, or other items.

Control refers to the capacity to reduce the impact of one item on another.

Arthropods are invertebrate animals with segmented bodies, an exoskeleton, and paired jointed legs.

An animal that naturally preys on others is a predator.