Examples:
bullet Spiders are well known predators. They catch insects to feed on them, either by hunting them down or by entrapping them in a web. In a healthy crop, many spiders will be present. They play an important role in keeping pest populations under control.
bullet Another common predator is the ladybird beetle. Both adults and larvae of this insect feed on aphids and other small insects.
bullet Carabid beetles are often seen in rice fields where they hunt for their prey.
bullet Mirid bugs are important predators that help to keep BPH populations at low levels.
bullet Dragonflies are predators that hunt for flying insects.
bullet Praying mantids catch other insects by grabbing them with their long front legs.
bullet In rice fields, predators can be found even in the water and on the surface of the water. For example water striders and nymphs of damselflies play important roles in maintaining the ecological balance.