Brown Planthopper

Brown planthopper

   

Brown Planthopper common name for a major rice pest Nilaparvata lugens of the family Delphacidae, order Homoptera. It was first recorded in India in 1906 as a rice pest under the name Liburnia greeni. In Bangladesh, although it was definitely recorded as a pest of the rice plant in 1969, mention of this insect was made in 1917 and in 1957. The pest is widely distributed in this subcontinent.

The adult insect is either light or dark brown in colour, about 3 mm in length, with piercing/sucking type of mouthparts. Both wings are transparent with conspicuous veins. The adults and nymphs suck plant juices from the base of the rice plants.

Brown planthopper infestation causes serious hopperburn to the rice fields, and frequent outbreaks have been reported in recent years from several districts of Bangladesh. This species is a vector of the virus causing grassy stunt disease.  [SM Humayun Kabir]