Incidence of leafhoppers in rice in relation to meteorological parameters

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at College of Agriculture, V. C. Farm, Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, during Kharif 2019. Occurrence of leafhoppers of rice was monitored by using yellow sticky trap on rice variety Jaya. The investigation revealed that, hoppers activity was first recorded during 36th standard meteorological week (SMW) on yellow sticky traps. Among the leafhopper complex observed during crop period only four species were abundant viz., Nephottetix virescens, N. nigropictus, C. spectra and Maiestas dorsalis. The peak incidence of Nephottetix virescens was observed during 45th SMW (25.00 hoppers/trap). The more number of N. nigropictus was recorded from 44th to 48th SMW (15.30 to 13.00 hoppers /trap). The highest number of trap catches was noticed at 45th SMW (19.8 hoppers/trap). N. virescens and N. nigropictus showed significant and positive association with sunshine hours and maximum temperature. Whereas, minimum temperature and morning relative humidity had found positive and non-significant association. Afternoon relative humidity, rainfall and number of rainy days were found negative association on leafhopper build up and found non-significant.