Delong Wang , Pingping Yang , Jiong Fu

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Molecular Entomology, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0017
Received: 24 May, 2024    Accepted: 28 Jun., 2024    Published: 16 Jul., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wang D.L., Yang P.Y., and Fu J., 2024, Role of natural predators in controlling maize pests, Molecular Entomology, 15(4): 138-145 (doi: 10.5376/me.2024.15.0017)

Natural predators effectively reduce pest populations through various mechanisms, including direct predation, parasitism, and inducing behavioral changes in pests, thereby minimizing damage to crops. This study systematically analyzes the main types of maize pests and their impact on agricultural production, explores the ecological roles and practical effectiveness of natural predators in pest management, and further evaluates their impact on maize pest control and crop yield through a case study in East Africa. The findings indicate that although natural predators play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance, their effectiveness is influenced by environmental factors, agricultural practices, and other pest management strategies. This study proposes strategies to enhance the efficiency of natural predators and emphasizes the necessity of integrating them with modern pest management techniques, aiming to provide a sustainable pest management pathway for modern agriculture.

Zea mays L.; Natural predators; Pest management; Ecological balance; Sustainable agriculture