Bio-effectiveness vis-a-vis non-target toxicity of pre-mix formulation, fenobucarb 20% ec + buprofezin 5% sc against sucking pests of rice under Gangetic alluvial plain of west bengal

Field evaluation of the bio-efficacy of pre mix insecticides fenobucarb 20% EC + buprofezin 5% SC along with traditional insecticides as foliar spray against brown plant hopper Nilaparvata lugens, white-backed plant hopper Sogatella furcifera and green leaf hopper Nephotettix nigropictus was undertaken in a progressive farmer's field at Nabagram (Burdwan), West Bengal under rainfed conditions with a HYV rice cultivar “Swarnamasuri”. the treatments at higher dosages (1500, 2000 and 3000 ml ha⁻¹) were superior over standard check treatments buprofezin 25% sc and fenobucarb 50% ec. the highest yield (32.88–37.32 q ha⁻¹) was obtained in case of higher dosages. the percent reduction of hopper population was maximum in treatments with high dosages with a mean ranging from 50.75–90.75%. the pre-mixed formulation was relatively soft to important natural enemies like Cyrtorhinus lividipennis and spiders and found suitable for economic rice pest management.