Sublethal effects of abamectin on the development,fecundity, and wing morphs of the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens

The brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens negatively affects rice yield by sucking nutrients from the rice stem and spreading viruses. In this study, the effects of sublethal concentrations of abamectin on development, fecundity, and wing morphs of N. lugens were investigated. Treatment with sublethal concentrations of abamectin showed no significant effects on the developmental period of F₀ nymphs. Although LC₁₀ and LC₂₅ treatments resulted in 10% and 25% mortality, the LC₂₅ treatment significantly prolonged the lifespan of macropterous and brachypterous females. Abamectin-treated brachypterous females showed significantly lower fecundity than control females. Furthermore, abamectin treatment showed no significant effects on the developmental period of F₁ nymphs. However, LC₂₅ treatment significantly inhibited the fecundity of brachypterous F₁ females and significantly reduced the proportion of macropterous F₁ females and brachypterous F₁ males. LC₂₅ treatment showed no significant effects on the fecundity of macropterous F₁ females. Considering the proportion of macropterous and brachypterous F₁ females, the relative fitness of the macropterous F₁ nymphs in the control, LC₁₀, and LC₂₅ treatment groups was 1, 1.02, and 0.84, respectively, and that of brachypterous F₁ nymphs was 1, 0.79, and 0.93, respectively. Sublethal concentrations of abamectin inhibited N. lugens emergence. The present findings indicate the potential of abamectin for N. lugens field control.