Biological control of rice pests

Research aimed at developing fungal insecticides to combat the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, and the Malayan rice bug, Scotinophara coarctata, is being conducted at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. Conventional chemical insecticides used against these pests are expensive, toxic, and often lead to the build-up of dangerous secondary infestations as the insecticides also remove beneficial predatory insects. Therefore the research is aimed at exploiting naturally occurring fungal epidemics that attack these pests in order to produce a safe and highly specific insecticide. The fungi can be isolated on artificial media and mass produced. Already good yields are being obtained from simple bubble fermenters, and scientists estimate that the cost of the fungi produced in these small units is almost equal to the cost of carbamate insecticides in much of Asia. At present, fungal conidia are generally applied using conventional spraying equipment, but researchers are hoping to simplify application by using dry marcescent mycelium instead of conidial products. For more details, contact: Entomology Department IRRI P O Box 933 Manila PHILIPPINESResearch aimed at developing fungal insecticides to combat the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, and the Malayan rice bug, Scotinophara coarctata, is being conducted at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines...