Impact of varietal resistance in rice and predation on the mortality of Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (Homoptera: Delphacidae)

Highly resistant, resistant and susceptible rice cultivars were tested in the greenhouse to determine their effect on Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) populations. The highly resistant cultivar IR2035-117-3, with resistance genes Wbph 1 and Wbph 2, caused the highest S. furcifera mortality. When the effects of varietal resistance and predation were combined the increase in mortality due to predators was additive. The spider Lycosa pseudoannulata Boes. et Str., mirid bug Cytorhinus lividipennis Reuter, ladybird beetle Harmonia octomaculata (F.) and rove beetle Paederus fuscipes Curt. were effective predators of S. furcifera and generally caused 30% mortality on the various cultivars. Results indicate that the integration of varietal resistance and predation would provide effective control of S. furcifera populations under field conditions.