Symptoms

  • In the field, symptoms are noticed in patches.
  • As a result of BPH feeding, at the base of rice plants,the plants first turn yellow followed by drying.
  • Drying of plants due to hopper attack is described as 'hopper burn'.The dried areas of patches gradually join together resulting in complete drying of the field.
  • BPH transmits grassy stunt and ragged stunt virus diseases.

Procedure for Observation

Randomly mark 4 one square meter plots in 0.4 Ha. Select 5 hills at random from one sq. m and count the total number of hoppers and their nymphs and workout the average population per hill.

ETL

  • Planting to pre tillering : 5-10 insects per hill.
  • Mid tillering : 10 insects per hill.
  • Panicle initiation to booting : 15- 20 insects per hill.
  • Flowering and after : 20-30 insects per hill.
  • Control Measures

  • Thriveni,Aruna,Ramanika,Revathy,Bharathy,Jayanthy,Aiswarya,Bhadra,Asha,Kanakam, Ranjini,Pavithra ,Panchami,Uma etc are tolerant/resistant to BPH.
  • Drain water from the field and keep it in that condition until the pest population reduces.
  • Apply one of the following insecticide/biopesticides as soon as yellowing symptoms are observed covering the infested patches and area surrounding the patches. While spraying care should be taken to see that the spray fluid reaches the base of the plants Spray Beauveria bassiana @ 20 g /L Spray 2% neem emulsion plus garlic extract Carbaryl 50 WP 2 Kg@Ha Quinalphos 25 EC @1000 ml/Ha Acephate (Asataf 75 EC@ 1000 g/Ha);Starthene 75 EC 1000g/Ha; Thiamethoxam (Actara 25 WG @ 100 g/Ha Phosalone (Zolone 35EC @1000ml/Ha Imidacloprid (Confidor 200 SL @150 ml/Ha;Tatamida 200 SL 150 ml/Ha)
  • For effective spray application allow alleyways after every 3 m rows.Avoid spraying synthetic pyrethoroids.Conserve and encourage predatory and parasitoid natural enemies.