This document discusses the brown plant hopper (BPH), a major pest of rice. It begins with an introduction that outlines the importance of rice as a crop and the damage caused by BPH. It then covers the classification, host plant, distribution, morphology, life cycle, nature of damage, reasons for outbreaks, and management of BPH. The management section discusses cultural, biological and chemical control methods. It concludes that effective control requires understanding BPH's biology and an integrated pest management approach using cultural practices, resistant varieties, biological control from predators, and selective use of insecticides.

1. DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY
ALLAHABAD 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

2. INTRODUCTION
CLASSIFICATION
HOST PLANT
DISTRIBUTION
MORPHOLOGY
LIFE CYCLE
EGG
NYMPH
ADULT
NATURE OF DAMAGE
REASONS FOR BROWN PLANT HOPPER OUTBREAK
MANAGEMENT
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
Contents

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. Scientific classification
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Hemiptera
Family : Delphacidae
Genus : Nilapervata
Species : lugen

6. Host Plant
BPH 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.

7. Morphology
Egg
The eggs are crescent-shaped and on average 0.99 mm long
Newly 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.

8. Nymph
There 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.

9. Adult
The 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.

10. 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 Duration
June – october 18-24 days
November – january 38-44 days
February – April 18-35

12. 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

13. 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)

14. Reason for Brown plant hopper Outbreak
Continuous 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.

15. 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.

16.  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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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/