B. Rearing of Test Larvae
B1. Field planting:Transplant 2-week-old seedlings into a well-prepared paddy field. (Normal planting)in the rice field encourages normal growth & plant development unlike growing plants in pots.
B2. Irrigation, Fertilizer & Pest Management:Using varieties susceptible to or preferred by rice leaffolder such asTaichung Native 1 or IR-22, recommended procedures for irrigation, and fertilization in normal production should be done.Use fertilizers rich in Nitrogen which will encourage more luxuriant growthon the plants.Avoid the use of insecticides on these plants. Nets can be used toprevent damage by insect pests and prevent the need for maintenancespraying of insecticides. The preferred rice plants to be used for rearingshould be about 30-50 days old.
B3. Rearing of Larvae in Whole Plants
B4. Harvesting of Larvae:With plenty of potted plants, insect cages and greenhouse space, larvae will grow well on potted plants without much maintenance. At the end of the one-week period, one has to harvest the larvae and select for the uniform and healthy larvae.
C. Treatment Application and Evaluation
C1. Leaf preparation