Population dynamics of the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stảl.) in rice fields and their association with the entomopthoralean fungus

Abstract

Abstract The rice plant (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the primary food sources for Indonesian people. The Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens is one of the most devastating rice insect pests in Indonesia. The entomopthoralean fungus, Pandora delphacis is reported to be able to infect BPH naturally in the rice field. This research aims to identify the entomopthoralean fungi phase and determine the level of fungal infection and its relations with the population dynamic of BPH in rice fields. This research was conducted in 2015 and 2016 on rice fields at Bogor Regency and Subang Regency; and in 2017 at Karawang Regency, West Java. The sampled BPH were collected from rice fields. The microscope slide squash mounts in lactophenol cotton blue were made for the insects and it was examined with a microscope compound to determine if hyphal bodies, conidiophore, primary conidia, secondary conidia, saprophytic fungi, and resting spores were present. The results showed that the entomopthoralean fungi phase found on BPH are hyphal bodies, primary conidia, secondary conidia, and saprophytic fungi. The fungus infected all the phases of the BPH, from the first nymphal phase to adult.