$Department of Entomology, Directorate of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, India. E mail: sarithapayrem@gmail.com
Department of Entomology, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*Part of Ph D (Agri) thesis submitted by the first author to Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Influence of fertilizing rice plants was investigated on predatory efficiency of two BPH mirid bug predators, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter and Tytthus parviceps (Reuter) (Miridae: Hemiptera). Four different fertilizer levels tested were zero level of N-P K (0-0-0); recommended level N-P-K (120-60-40); double the recommended N-P-K (240-120-80); double the recommended N- and recommended P-K (240-60-40). These fertilizer levels were evaluated each at four different predator to pest ratios. Comparatively higher predation was observed at recommended fertilizer level in case of both the predators. Predation was highest at highest predator to pest ratio (10 predator: 300 BPH nymphs).
Brown planthopper, Nilaparvatha lugens, mirid bugs, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, Tytthus parviceps, fertilizer levels
