Feeding Behavior of Imidacloprid Resistant Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)

A study was conducted to investigate the feeding behavior of imidacloprid resistant (RS) and laboratory (LS) strains of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, by using standard honeydew and probing tests. The honeydew production was higher in RS strain (7.12 and 14.63 cm2) as compared to LS strain (5.44 and 1.86 cm2) in both the imidacloprid treated and untreated conditions, respectively. The probing test revealed an increased probing activity by both the LS and RS strains on imidacloprid treated seedlings as compared to the untreated. The number of probing marks by LS and RS strains on the treated seedlings were 16 and 31, whereas in untreated seedlings 7 and 11 respectively. These results established the higher feeding capacity of imidacloprid resistant N. lugens strain as compared to the laboratory strain, measured in terms of probing behaviour and honeydew production.