Population dynamics of the green leafhopper,Nephotettix virescens Distant (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in synchronized and staggered transplanting areas of paddy fileds in Indonesia

Summary The population dynamics ofNephotettix virescens, a vector of rice tungro virus disease was investigated in a synchronized transplanting area at Jatisari (1984–1986), West Java and in a staggered transplanting area at Sidan (1986–1988), Bali, Indonesia. The FARMCOP suction sampler was employed for population censuses ofN. virescens and its natural enemies. The population growth pattern was affected by transplanting pattern: In the staggered transplanting area, the population density increased from the immigrant generation to the first generation, and sharply decrease thereafter, while in the synchronized transplanting area the population density often reached the highest peak in the second generation. The degree of contageousness in the spatial distribution ofN. virescens was negatively correlated with population density of the immigrant generation. Contribution from Indonesia-Japan Joint Program on Food Crop Protection