Use of the botanical insecticide, neem to control the small rice stinkbug Oebalus poecilus (Dallas, 1851) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Guyana

The small rice stinkbug, Oebalus poecilus is the principal insect pest of rice in Guyana and many other South American countries. In Guyana, stinkbug control is achieved through spraying with monocrotophos. Research is underway to find cost effective, safer alternatives to monocrotophos. One possibility is the use of products derived from the neem tree, which grows commonly in Guyana. Both bioassays and field tests were used to examine the efficacy of crude neem kernel extracts and several commercially available products. Bioassays revealed that the extracts exhibited a low contact kill as against the commercial products. Antifeedant and ovipositional deterrent tests demonstrated good activity in reducing stinkbug feeding damage but not oviposition. Field-testing of all compounds highlighted that the commercial product showed promise in reducing stinkbug damage when applied at 2.5l ha-1. The prospects for possible inclusion into an integrated pest management programme are discussed