PREFERENCE OF WHITE-BACKED PLANTHOPPER, SOGATELLA-FURCIFERA TO DIFFERENT RICE VARIETIES

Preference studies of the white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath) (Delphacidae: Homoptera) (WBPH) for different growth stages of rice, Oryza sativa L., indicated that WBPH selected its preferred variety for feeding by alighting on the plant and feeding briefly, 'tasting' the plant. Differential preference for shelter, food or oviposition by WBPH were observed for different rice varieties and for different stages of a variety. With the advancement of plant age, rice varieties became more unsuitable for feeding and a process progressing more rapidly in resistant varieties. Most of the resistant varieties viz. Pundia, Landi Sarakanti and Ptb-33, unsuitable for shelter and feeding were usually not preferred for oviposition. However, the tolerant variety Mahia bankoi, though suitable for shelter and feeding was also not preferred for oviposition. Therefore, when screening varieties by only measuring feeding preference sources having tolerance mechanisms of resistance may be overlooked.