Resistance Management of Brown Planthopper, Nilaparvata Lugens, in Indonesia

Abstract

In the 1970′s and early 1980′s, during rice production intensification in Indonesia, the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal, became a major pest of rice and seriously threatened Indonesia’s rice self-sufficiency. Factors that contributed to the increasing problems of brown planthopper were: injudicious use of pesticides which caused pest resurgence, the elimination of natural enemies and the development of resistance; breakdown of host plant resistance, and; lack of integration of different pest management tactics. In 1986, because of the increasing problems with brown planthopper, the Indonesian government declared Integrated Pest Management (IPM) the national rice pest management strategy and banned 57 pesticides for their use on rice based on expert advice. Although this IPM program is highly effective, brown planthopper will continue to adapt to pesticides and resistant rice varieties used in the current IPM program. Therefore, in order to develop a sustainable rice IPM program, pesticide and host plant resistance management strategies need to be implemented.