Crops: Rice Insect Pests
Brown plant hopper - Nilaparvata lugens (Delphacidae : Homoptera)
- BPH is a major pest in all rice growing countries.
- Nymphs and adults are wedge shaped. They exhibit wing polymorphism with macropterous and brachypterous forms.
- Both nymphs and adults suck sap from the basal portions of the plants, insert eggs into leaf sheaths or midribs and inject some toxins.
- Cumulative effect of all these results in premature yellowing of leaves leading to ‘drying’. Later the plant dies.
- TDrying of plants occurs in isolated circular patches which coalesce and the entire field dries up causing hopper burn.
- Excuvia and sooty mold growing on honey dew excreted by the insects are seen at the base of the plant.
- Affected stems become soft and unfit for straw.
- Brown plant hoppers also transmit grassy stunt virus disease.
- Growing resistant varieties effectively reduce the hopper incidence.
- Spraying insecticide directing the spray fluid towards base of the plants is recommended.
- To facilitate basal spraying alleys or pathways are recommended.
- Control measures are to be taken when there are 20-25 brown hoppers per hill at tillering stage.
- A mirid bug (Cyrtorrhinus lividipennis) and spider Lycosa are common predators.
