Eggplant Integrated Pest Management AN ECOLOGICAL GUIDE

__________________________________________________________________Major Natural Enemies of Eggplant Insect PestsRelated exercisesFor more background reading and practical exercises on insect-killing nematodes for fruit and shootborer management, please refer to the report “Participatory Action Research on Vegetable IPM (withemphasis on Fruit and Shoot borer Management)” authored by Prabhat Kumar, FAO Vegetable IPMTraining Consultant, Jessore, Bangladesh, 1998. See reference list (chapter 11) on how to obtain copies.6.4 Other natural enemies6.4.1 BirdsThe value of wild birds as insect predators is clearly demonstrated in many situations. In some areas inIndia, bird perches are placed in vegetable fields to provide a resting placewhere birds can lookout for food like caterpillars!Farmers in various countries have been using chickens in cotton plots toeat the cotton stainers and other bugs that drop to the ground whendisturbed. Chickens also eat various caterpillars and pupa that are on theground.Birds: insect predators!In several parts of Southeast Asia ducks have been effectively used against golden apple snails in rice.6.4.2 PigsSometimes, pigs are allowed to spend some time at the vegetable field after harvest. This is to theadvantage of both farmer and pig because the pigs will eat a large part of crop leftoversand may also dig into the soil in search for pupae of insects. When eatingcrop left-overs, possible diseases and insect larvae and eggs that are still presenton the old leaves, are removed and destroyed and cannot spread to the next crop.An exception is clubroot in cabbage: this root disease can tolerate passage throughthe intestines of farm animals.☺☺☺☺☺☺☺Natural enemies are very valuable:they help farmers to control pests!116Eggplant Ecological Guide