Early-stage infestation of green leafhopper (GLH) in rice often requires foliar insecticides application, which can adversely affect natural enemies and the environment. This study investigated the efficacy of seven insecticides applied as seed treatment using a completely randomized design. Seed treatments significantly influenced seed germination, with the maximum germination observed in the untreated control (92.00%) and the minimum in curtap (63.33%). Among the tested insecticides, imidacloprid & thiamethoxam (neonicotinoids) performed excellent germination rates (>86.33%) and enhanced seedling vigor; imidacloprid displayed the longest root (5.15 cm) & shoot (4.15 cm) length. The maximum damage of seedling was exhibited in the untreated control under both choice (50.67%) and no-choice (94.67%) tests, whereas imidacloprid (choice:6.00%, no-choice:0.33%) and thiamethoxam (choice:7.00%, no-choice:3.67%) provided strong protection against GLH infestation. Neonicotinoid treatments consistently suppressed GLH populations and reduced F1 generation development, while untreated control demonstrated the highest densities. The maximum prevalence of GLH, rice whorl maggot, brown planthopper, zigzag leafhopper was observed in untreated control, curtap and isoprocarb plots but minimum at neonicotinoid plots. The abundance of natural enemies harboring maximum in untreated plots, while spider population was maximum under untreated and imidacloprid plots, suggesting lower non-target impacts. Overall, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid demonstrated the most effective for suppressing GLH population and boosting seedling vigor, while being compatible with some natural enemies; highlighting their potential for reducing reliance on foliar sprays.
rice; seed treatment; imidacloprid; neonicotinoids; thiamethoxam; rational insecticide