The Efficacy of Selected Predators Against White-Backed Planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) (Homoptera: Delphacidae) in Rice in Myanmar

Abstract

Field and cage experiments were conducted in Myanmar, in 2002, to evaluate the potential of different predators for the management of white-backed planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera. Twelve selected commonly appearing predators in rice ecosystems, i.e. Paederus fuscipes, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, Hydrometra sp., Limnogonus fossarum, Pardosa pseudoannulata, Tetragnatha sp., Micraspis discolor, Ropalidia fasciata, Ischnura senegalensis, Anaxipha sp., Camponotus sp. and Casnoidea indica, were tested in cages for predation potential on WBPH at 10 and 20 days after infestation in the first study. The second study conducted in field plots covered with nets using 8 predators. The efficacy of predators and their influence on yield were evaluated. The highest predation rate was in the Camponotus sp. treatment and each insect consumed 23 and 2 insects by 10 and 20 days after infestation, respectively, in the cage experiment. The predation of Camponotus sp., Paederus fuscipes, Pardosa pseudoannulata, Hydrometra sp., Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, Casnoidea indica, Micraspis discolor and Tetragnatha sp. was greater than that of Limnogonus fossarum, Ischnura senegalensis, Anaxipha sp. and Ropalidia fasciata on WBPH. In the field study, the numbers of WBPH survived in all predator treatments were found significantly reduced compared to the control (without predators and with WBPH). There were significantly higher yield losses due to WBPH in the control compared to rice plants without both WBPH and predators. Treatments with Camponotus sp. and P. pseudoannulata had excellent suppression of WBPH and higher grain yields when compared to other predator treatments.