Identification, symptoms and nature of damage of

Plant- and Leaf-hoppers

NextEnd

Introduction

Rice is the world’s most important food crop and is the staple food for more

than half of the population. In India, rice is grown on about an area of 45.0

million hectares with a production of 89.0 million tonnes. However, rice

productivity of 3.01 t/ha in India is inferior to 6.26 t/ha in China and 3.51 t/ha in

Sri Lanka. There are over 800 insect species damaging rice in one way or other but

about 20 species are of major importance and of regular occurrence. The insect

pests cause huge economic loss to the rice-growing farmers in the developing

world.

Yield loss due to insect pests in rice has been estimated to the tune of 21 % to

50 %. The insect pest complex of the rice crop has undergone a drastic change

during the last three decades following the green revolution.

PreviousEnd Next

Brown planthopper(BPH)

White-backed planthopper (WBPH)

Identification of Insect

Among 15 species of planthoppers and

leafhoppers known to infest rice in India, brown

planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens;

whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella

furcifera, and green leafhopper (GLH),

Nephotettix virescens are most damaging ones.

The BPH caused wide spread devastation

of rice crop during kharif 2008 in north India

and again during kharif 2010, it was serious

in sporadic pockets. Yield loss could be as

high as 50-90%.

End Previous Next

Rice plants affected by tungro

Planthoppers on rice stems

Courtesy: agritech.tnau.ac.in

Nature of Damage

In general, planthoppers generally remain

confined to plant stems and leaf sheaths while

leafhoppers occur on plant foliage. Due to this

habit, planthoppers are overlooked by farmers until

appearance of ‘hopperburn’ symptoms in which

crop starts drying and lodging. However, during

outbreaks, planthoppers can be witnessed in

abundance on leaves also.

On other hand, leafhoppers feed on leaves and

damage the crop. However, they are more important

as vectors of virus disease “tungro”

End Previous Next

Green Leafhopper Courtesy: DPPQS

Planthoppers

Mark of identification

As the name indicates, BPH nymphs and adults are

brown in colour while WBPH nymphs are white or grey

and adults have a white stripe at their back.

The GLH adults are green with black spot and black

patch on wings. These can be seen moving sideways

on leaves.

The BPH and WBPH occur in long-winged

(macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous)

forms. These are small insects measuring 3.0-4.5 mm.

The BPH is also known to undertake long range

migration.

End Previous Next

Crop damage (hopper burn) due to planthoppers

Both nymphs and adults of

planthoppers damage crop by

sucking sap from plant stems

and leaf sheaths, and as a result

leaves start turning yellow. If

not checked during initial

stages, population builds up

rapidly resulting in

“hopperburn”. In case of BPH

typical concentric circles of

hopperburn can be witnessed in

field. Besides direct damage,

BPH also transmits grassy stunt

virus disease in rice.End Previous Next

Planthopper damaged crop

Leaf hoppers also suck sap from leaves but these are more important as transmitters of tungro virus disease than as direct feeders.

Dense rice crop under continuously flooded conditions and excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers provides very congenial environment for planthopper population build up.

Irrigation should be applied in ‘alternate wetting & drying fashion’ and if planthopper population buildup is perceived then irrigation should be withheld for few days. Likewise, excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers be avoided with emphasis on balanced fertilizer use.

End Previous Next

Proper monitoring and

judicious use of fertilizers &

irrigation hold key to

planthopper management in

rice. Monitoring can be done by

inspecting plant stems at

several places in all parts of

field. As plant stems are tapped,

these insects fall on water and

can be seen swimming.

Likewise, light traps can also be

used for monitoring

planthoppers. Light trap

Planthoppers on plant stems

Management practices

(cont...)End Previous Next

Spiders play very important role in

containing planthoppers and therefore

they should be conserved through

selective pesticide application. This can

be ensured through use of granular

formulation of pesticides or leaving

certain areas in the field untreated.

There is also practice of placing rice

straw bundles in field after

transplanting to encourage spider

population build up.

Economic threshold level (ETL): 8-10 hoppers/hill

Spiders

Management practices

End Previous Next

Let’s sum up

Yield loss due to insect pests in rice has been estimated to the tune of 25%.

Brown planthopper (BPH), whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) and green leafhopper (GLH), Nephotettix virescens are most damaging pests of rice

Both nymphs and adults of planthoppers damage crop by sucking sap from plant stems and leaf sheaths.

On other hand, leafhoppers feed on leaves and damage the crop. However, they are more important as vectors of virus disease “tungro”.

Dense rice crop under continuously flooded conditions and excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers provides very congenial environment for planthopper population build up.

Spiders play very important role in containing planthoppers and therefore they should be conserved through selective pesticide application.

End Previous