Abstract:For further protection and utilization of natural enemy resource, the predation of Agelena difficilis (Fox) on the nymphs and female adult of the small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus (Falln), was studied, and the sensibility of the spider to six insecticides which were commonly used in paddy field was determined with filter paper method as well. The results showed that the functional response of A.difficilis nymphs and adults could be described with Holling Ⅱ equation. Predation number of A.difficilis on 1st, 3rd, 5th instar nymphs and the female adults of SBPH were 224.6, 202.0, 148.6 and 35.7, respectively. The moment attack parameter of the spider to the 1st instar nymph was 0.82, which was lower than that of spider to the 3rd, 5th instar nymphs and female adults. Intra-specific interference of the spider was found in the experiment. The predation rate of A.difficilis decreased along with the increase of predator density. Mutual interference reduced the searching efficiency of the spider. The toxicity of 48% chlorpyrifos EC to A.difficilis was the strongest among the six insecticides tested in the experiment with the LC50 value within 24h 0.30mg/L. According to the recommended concentration of the six insecticides, the safety factors of 25% pymetrozin WP and 10% imidacloprid WP were much higher than the other four insecticides.