Investigation of Arthropod Predators and Insect Pest Control

1.1 Introduction

Insect pests are those insect species that are injurious or a nuisance. They cause injury or damage to crops in the field and grains in storage. Man and his domesticated animals are also attacked by insect pests. Arthropod predators belong to the phylum Arthropoda and are most times beneficial in the control of insect pests. Arthropod predators are members of the phylum Arthropoda which capture and feed on the prey. They are generally larger than their prey and kill or consume many preys during their life time. The predators are major and successful biological control agents of aphids, mealy bugs, scale insects, thrip, and mites (Khan and Naeem, 2005). Some are specific in their choice of food, many are generalists. Introduction of these predators as bio control agents is widely regarded as the first and still to this day one of the most spectacularly successful instances of biological pest control (Khan and Naeem, 2005).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Arthropod species occur from below the soil surface to the tree canopy. However, only a small fraction are observed on a frequent basis because many are microscopic or hidden below ground or plant tissue. Very few species are classified as pest. Whether they feed on plants or plant produce invade our homes, inflict painful bites or stings. Infect most insects and other arthropods are beneficial and serve a variety of important functions in the garden. The abundance of beneficial insects especially predators is often limited in urban landscapes because these environments typically are characterized by disturbance.

Disturbance factors include use of pesticides and other chemicals, air pollution and wind-borne dust, all of which may increase mortality of beneficial arthropods. Residential landscapes often lack adequate amounts of essential resources such as food, nesting sites and shelter than enhance reproduction and survival of natural enemies. Some common strategies are employed to conserve them in residential landscapes and these strategies may help reduce insecticide use and improve plant health by enhancing natural control of arthropod pests. Because many arthropod pests are exotic the aim of classical biological control is to reduce pest numbers by reuniting old enemies through importation of predators from the area of insect pest origin.

Lady beetles, green lace wings and spiders are familiar examples of predator arthropods inhibiting residential landscapes and gardens. In general, predators are larger than their prey, consume many prey items during their life time and feed on a broad range of species immature and/or adults may be predatory and often do not leave behind any evidence of attack. However, these arthropod predators often help to keep aphids, spider mites, caterpillars and other insect pests under control.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to investigate the Arthropod Predators and Insect Pest Control.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that many arthropod pests are exotic the aim of classical biological control is to reduce pest numbers by reuniting old enemies through importation of predators from the area of insect pest origin. Lady beetles, green lace wings and spiders are familiar examples of predator arthropods inhibiting residential landscapes and gardens.

In general, predators are larger than their prey, consume many prey items during their life time and feed on a broad range of species immature and/or adults may be predatory and often do not leave behind any evidence of attack. However, these arthropod predators often help to keep aphids, spider mites, caterpillars and other insect pests under control.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate of arthropod predators and insect pest control. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To investigate the advantage of arthropod predators to farmers;
2. To examine the rate of Arthropods predators in farmlands; and
3. To examine the relationship between the existence of arthropod predators and control of insect pests.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there a relationship between the incidence of arthropods predators and insect pest control?
• What is the rate of arthropod predators in farmlands in Makurdi?
• What is the advantage of arthropod predator’s incidence to crop farmers?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between the incidence of arthropod predators and insect pest control.
• H1: There is significant relationship between the incidence of arthropod predators and insect pest control.

1.7 Significance of Study

Economically, the study is helpful as it allows scientists to leverage on the positives of arthropods predators to invent or develop insect pest control methods. Also, this study is a contribution to the numerous studies on insect pest control in Zoology and it is an academic source for further researches.

This study will also be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the insect pest control and the target audience is the farmers. This is because farmers encounter insect pest often and are the most affected by insect pest. Also, the study will focus on farmers in Makurdi, Benue state. Further studies can expand the study to accommodate farmers from Makurdi.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent Power Failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Insect: Insects are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates and the largest group within the arthropod phylum.

Pest: a destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc.

Control: the ability to minimize the effect of one thing over another.

Predators: an animal that naturally preys on others

Arthropods: An arthropod is an invertebrate animal having an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed appendages.