Control of Rice brown plant hopper (BPH)

Control of Rice Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) 

Scientific Name: Nilaparvata lugens

Nature of Damage

Nymphs and adults of planthoppers suck sap from plants. Under favorable conditions, they multiply very fast. Both brown planthopper(BPH) and white backed planthopper(WBPH) are known for their resistance to commonly used insecticides including the neonicotinoids. Temperature, relative humidity, and prevailing wind direction determine the severity of incidence and spread of planthoppers.

Symptoms

1. The serious incidence of BPH coincides with panicle initiation stage with the appearance of 'hopper burn' symptoms in circular patches at grain maturity stage. BPH nymphs and adults inhabit the stems at the base of the plant, suck sap and actively multiply under congenial weather conditions. 

2. Planting time, which is dependent on the incident rainfall or water availability for irrigation has a significant bearing on the timing of initial population, its build-up, and coincidence with susceptible crop growth stage with conducive temperatures and relative humidity. 

3. Temperature is a key driver of BPH development, survival and reproduction. The user can forecast the timing of pest generations by providing inputs such as daily temperature (max and min) for the location since the time of pest observation under field conditions (date) and pest stage observed.

Cultural practices:

1. Avoid excess use of nitrogen.
2. Monitoring of BPH at the base of the plant 30 days after transplanting at weekly interval.
3. Cultivation of Resistant varieties.
4. Alternate wetting and drying the field during peak infestation.
5. Apply the recommended dose of nitrogen fertilizer.

Chemical Control: 

1. When insect population reaches 10insect/hill apply Mipcin 75 WP (Methyl Isoprocarb) @ 27gm/10 liter of water or Haymidor 70WDG (Imidacloprid) @ 2gm/15 liter of water. 

2. Spray should be done at the base or bottom of the rice plants.

BPH attacked rice field