Biology of <i>Metioche vittaticollis</i> (Stål) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), a predator of rice pests

Abstract

Abstract The biology of the predacious cricket Metioche vittaticollis (Stål) collected from rice in the Philippines was studied in the laboratory and greenhouse. The cricket preyed on the eggs of a range of insect pests of rice including Chilo suppressalis (Walker), Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée), Hydrellia philippina Ferino, Mythimna separata (Walker) and to a lesser extent on the eggs of Leptocorisa oratorius (F.). There was no predation on the eggs of Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker).