DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGYALLAHABAD SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

SAM HIGGINBOTTOM INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCES

[Formerly-Allahabad Agricultural Institute](Deemed-to-be-University)

ALLAHABAD- 211007, U.P., INDIA 

SUBMMITED BY,RAKESH KR. MEENA

SUBMITTED TO,

DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY

INTRODUCTIONCLASSIFICATIONHOST PLANTDISTRIBUTIONMORPHOLOGYLIFE CYCLE

EGGNYMPHADULT

NATURE OF DAMAGEREASONS FOR BROWN PLANT HOPPER OUTBREAKMANAGEMENTCONCLUSIONREFERENCES

Contents

Introduction Rice is the major staple crop for about half of the worlds

population.

India rank second in the production of rice after china.

Upto 60% yield loss is common in susceptible rice cultivars

attacks by Brown plant hopper (BPH).

Brown plant hopper (Nilapervata lugens) are among the

most important pest of rice (Oryza sative L).

Both nymphs and adults of plant hopper also transmits

viruses such as rice ragged stunt virus (RGSV).

Thus, increased level of plant hopper occasionally accompany

substantial losses of rice crop through viruses diseases.

Losses from the insect and the disease have occurred in India

estimate at US $ 20 millions. The estimate losses due to the BPH

and the grassy stunt diseases total more than US$ 300 millions.

Scientific classification

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Arthropoda

Class : Insecta

Order : Hemiptera

Family : Delphacidae

Genus : Nilapervata

Species : lugen

Host PlantBPH is monophagous, feeding only on rice (Oriza sativa L.). However, in no-choice conditions, BPH will feed on finger millet, sugarcane, maize, Echinochloa,Cyperus,sorghum, and wheat.

Distribution BPH is the most economically important plant hopper in Asia. It

occurs throughout India, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Philippines.

In India it is mainly found in Uttar Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu etc.

MorphologyEggThe eggs are crescent-shaped and on average 0.99 mm longNewly laid eggs are whitish and they turn darker when about to

hatch. The female can lay from 100 to 500 eggs depending on the stage

of growth of the rice plant The eggs stage is about 7 to 11 Days.

NymphThere are 5 nymphal instars that all feed on the host plant’s phloem sap until the adult stage. The nymphs have a triangular head with a narrow vertex. The body is creamy white with a pale brown tinge. Mature nymphs are about 2.99mm long.

AdultThe adult female measures from 4.2 to

4.5 mm and the male 3.80 to 4.12 mm. The adults range in colour from

brownish black to yellowish brown. There is a distinct white band on the

mesonotum with dark brown on the outer sides.

long-winged adults have normal front and hind wings, whereas shortwinged forms have stunted hind wings.

The wings are also normally shorter in males than in females.

Life cycle

In south India Maximum population between October and

February, depending on the climate conditions, the incidence of

brown plant hopper is sever on kharrif crop.

Brachypters lay 300-350 eggs.

Incubation period-4-8 days

Nymphal period 2-3 week with 5 instar

Adult longevity 10-20 days

Period DurationJune – october 18-24 daysNovember – january 38-44 daysFebruary – April 18-35

Nature and Symptoms of Damage

Nymph and adult congregate at the base of plants, above water level, and suck plant sap.

In severe infestation the leaves first turn yellow, and later brown and finally the affected plants dry and die.

The first sign of damage is the sudden slumping of crop in patches in field.

The crop in these affected patches dries up giving a scorched appearance called “Hopper burn”

Conidia of Alterneria brassicae

Crop loss is usually considerable and complete destruction of

crop occurs in severe cases.

Brown plant hopper also transmit viruses such as rice ragged

stunt virus (RRSV) and rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV)

Reason for Brown plant hopper OutbreakContinuous cultivation of susceptible varieties.

Closer planting.

Favorable microclimate

Widespread migration of winged macropteras forms to endemic and

new areas.

Continue uses of same group of insecticides (nionicotinoid) to be

avoided.

Use of high doses of nitrogenous fertilizers.

Management

ETL

ETL for Brown plant hopper 5 to 10 insect/hill.

Cultural control Adopt planting with formation of alleys of 25 cm at intervals of 2mt

to provide good aeration and sunlight. Avoid dense planting Excess application of N fertilizer may be avoided. In vegetative phase of the crop growth periodical drying and wetting

may be followed for short period to create disturbance in micro climatic climate conditions favorable to pest development.

Grow resistance varieties like Chaitanya, Krishnaveni, Chandan,

Triguna, Deepthi, Nandi, Vijeta, Pratitha, Vajram etc.

In developing resistant varieties bio type development has

complicated the effectiveness source resistant in one region may

be susceptible in an other region. The susceptibility of IR 26, the

first brown plant hopper, resistance variety released by IRRI in

India singnaled the evolution of bio types among hopper

populations.

II. Predators

1. Green mirid bug, Cyrtorhinus

lividipennis(Hemiptera: Miridae)

2. Carabid beetle Ophionea

nigrofasciata (Coleoptera:

Carabidae) Both the shiny black larvae and

reddish-brown adults search the rice canopy for prey

Consumes 3-5 hoppers per day

Lady beetle Harmonia octamaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

• Larvae are black with dark yellow spots and have body horns dorsally and laterally

• Active during the day in the upper half of rice canopy

• Larvae are more voracious than adults

• Consume 5-10 prey a day

Chemical control

Application of these chemical insecticides were effective against brown plant

hopper in rice

Monocrotophos 36% SL 1.3ml/lit of water

Chlopyrifos 20 EC 2.5ml/lit of water

Carbaryl 50WP 2.0gm/lit of water

Phorate 10G@10kg/hac

Corbofuran 3G@25kg/hac

CONCLUSION

The Brown plant hopper (Nilapervata lugens) is a monophagous species.

Effective control is not possible without the knowledge of this pests biology and life cycle.

Integrated pest control measure including cultural practices (date of sowing, avoid high use of N fertilizer), use of resistance variety(Chaitanya, Krishnaveni, Chandan), Biological control (Predators )and valid use of chemical insecticides (Monocrotophos , Chlopyrifos ,Carbaryl ) are effective in increasing the production of rice and reducing the pest infestation.

References

CABI. 2007. Crop Protection Compendium. Commonwealth

Agricultural Bureau, International. http://www.cabicompendium.org/. HIRAO, J. 1976. Recent trend in the occurrence of the brown

planthopper [in Japanese]. Kongetsu-No-Noyaku 20(5):40–43. Khus G.S., (1999).”green revolution preparin for the 21st

century” Genome42(4): 646-55 Mathur Y.K. and Upadhyay K.D., (2012) Agricultural Entomology

Rama publishing house, P144. Phatak M.D. khan Z.R. (1994), Insect Pest of Rice.Manila

(Phillipines) IRRI, P89 http://ricehoppers.net/