Non target effect of ethiprole+imidacloprid 80 WG on predators of rice planthoppers.

Studies were conducted to evaluate ethiprole 40% + imidacloprid 40% 80 WG as foliar application for its toxicity against spiders and mirid bugs of rice in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2006 2008. The higher dose of ethiprole 40% + imidacloprid 40% 80 WG (125 g ha-1) recorded 41.20 and 58.13 percent reduction of spiders and 35.74 and 56.21 percent reduction of mirid bugs over control during first and second trials, respectively. Whereas standard check, acephate 75 SP + endosulfan 35 EC (Tank mixture) @ 750 + 1000 g/ml ha-1 recorded higher reduction of 59.79 % and 61.00 % of spiders and 50.70 % and 78.75 % of mirid bugs over untreated control during first and second trials, respectively. A reduction in the population of mirid bugs and spiders was observed immediately after the application of insecticides. Though there was an initial set back in the population, it started increasing gradually in the ethiprole 40% + imidacloprid 40% 80 WG treated plots. However, the population was found to be less when compared to untreated check. Hence ethiprole 40% + imidacloprid 40% 80 WG treatments were found to be safer to the predators found in the rice ecosystem.