~ 964 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(5): 964-973 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(5): 964-973 © 2017 JEZS Received: 10-07-2017 Accepted: 11-08-2017 Fred Bwayo Masika Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda Michael Masanza Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda Goncalves Aluana Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, Rodovia GO 462 km 12, 75375000 Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, Brazil Jose Alexandre Freitas Barrigossi Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, Rodovia GO 462 km 12, 75375000 Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, Brazil Elizabeth B Kizito Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda Correspondence Fred Bwayo Masika Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Uganda Christian University Abundance, distribution and effects of temperature and humidity on arthropod fauna in different rice ecosystems in Uganda Fred Bwayo Masika, Michael Masanza, Goncalves Aluana, Jose Alexandre Freitas Barrigossi and Elizabeth B Kizito Abstract The study on abundance, distribution and effects of temperature and humidity on arthropod fauna was conducted in smallholder rice farming areas in three agro-ecological zones of Lake Victoria basin, Northern moist farmlands and Western Savannah grasslands in Uganda. Arthropods were collected using a standard sweep net and a total of 17 orders representing 13,272 arthropods were recorded from the three agro-ecological zones during the study. Most arthropod fauna were collected in Bugiri, Lira and Kasese respectively. The most abundant orders throughout the survey included Homoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Orthoptera. While the least abundant included Dermaptera, Zoraptera, Phasmatodea, Mantodea, Embioptera and Neuroptera. All orders except Embioptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera and Phasmatodea were collected in all the three agro-ecological zones. The orders Diptera (p = 0.0282), Hymenoptera (p = 0.0051), Lepidoptera (p = 0.0149), Odonata (p = 0.0356) showed a significant difference in abundance in the three agro-ecological zones. Temperature and humidity had a significant effect on the arthropod population for example Aranea showed a positive correlation in their abundance with increase in temperature in all the agro-ecologies. Keywords: Arthropods, rice fields, weather parameters, agro-ecologies, diversity 1. Introduction A healthy and balanced agro-ecosystem is always in a dynamic state. In a naturally balanced ecosystem, the key components, including arthropods, diseases and weeds are in a shifting balance with other species like natural enemies and crops as components of local food webs [1] . The presence of these key components in a given agro-ecological system varies according to their population and that of their natural enemies at a given time [1] . The variations may often and not always depend on crop phenology, environmental conditions and management practices in a given area. Depending on the prevailing conditions, the populations of such species may reach levels devastating crops, and thus become known as ‘pests’ [1, 2] . However, the population is often influenced by local management practices, like cropping systems, varieties of crops and use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides [2, 3] . Minimizing disruption to the local agro-ecological balance requires sufficient information on existing pest species in the field and their role in a given agro-ecosystem [2, 4] . Introduction of new inputs and practices in traditional farming agro-ecosystems, has led to higher productivity, but with many profound effects including increased vulnerability of agricultural systems, hence reducing their resilience and production sustainability [5] . The changes in species populations can be well monitored in rice agro-ecological systems, where they are used as indicators of environmental change more rapidly than the vertebrates [6] . In a rice agro-ecosystem, the average loss caused by insect-pests was estimated at about 18% in Africa [7] . Over 266 species of insect pests have been recorded on rice crop and of these, 20-33 species are economically important [8] . They include stem borers, plant hoppers, gall midge, leaf folders and other pests while the rest are either beneficial in the form of a wide range of predators and parasitoids [9] . Among abiotic factors, weather parameters play a significant role in rice production system. Weather conditions influence the various growth and development stages of a crop and indirectly, the incidence of pests and diseases [10] .