摘要
Solenopsis sp. is an important invader on upland arthropod of Eastern India. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of this insect as potential biocontrol agent against some major pests of rice. The ant populations were sampled before and during appearance of hibernating larva and pupa of rice yellow stem borer （YSB） Scirpophaga incertulas （Walk.） inside the rice plant. Species richness and diversity of other ant species were also assessed from YSB protected field with insecticides and the crop grown under natural biological control. The maximum value of Barger-Parker index （d = 0.245） indicated that fire ant constituted 24.55% of the total population. Besides, in natural as in agricultural ecosystems, interference between fire ants and mealy bug as well as aphids was also recorded in different altitudes of the Eastern Himalayas and found that the incidence of fire ants Solenopsis sp. decreased the abundance of borer pests, but in contrast it increased the hopper pests in the same ecological niche.
