Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) | Major Pest in Rice Cultivation
Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)
A Silent Threat to Asia’s Rice Fields
If you’re a rice farmer or involved in rice cultivation, you’re likely familiar with the Brown Planthopper—a tiny insect with a massive impact. This destructive pest has caused significant crop losses across Asia, including Thailand. In this article, we’ll explore its biology, life cycle, feeding behavior, and effective control methods that are both practical and sustainable.
Basic Information
- Common Name: Brown Planthopper
- Scientific Name: Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)
- Family: Delphacidae
- Order: Hemiptera
Morphology & Biology
Antennae: Setaceous (hair-like)Wings:
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Forewings (hemelytra): Hardened at the base, thin and transparent at the tips
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Hindwings: Membranous and delicate
Legs:
Hind legs: Modified for jumping
Size: About 3 mm; body is brownish-grey
Adults: Exist in both long-winged and short-winged forms
Behavior:Nocturnal and highly attracted to artificial lights
Life Cycle
The Brown Planthopper undergoes incomplete metamorphosis, which includes:
Egg Stage
- Females can lay up to 200 eggs
- Eggs hatch in about 7 days
Nymph Stage
- Nymphs molt 5 times before becoming adults
- This stage lasts around 10–20 days
Adult Stage
- Adults live for 10–15 days on average
- Capable of mating and egg-laying
Feeding Behavior & Crop Damage
Host Plants: Mainly grasses, especially rice (Oryza sativa)Damage:
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Nymphs and adults pierce the base of rice plants to feed on sap
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Causes the plant to dry out and die, a condition known as “hopperburn”
Geographic Distribution
The Brown Planthopper is prevalent throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, including:
- Thailand
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- And parts of Australia
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategies
Biological Control Agents
Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Egg Predator Bug): Preys on BPH eggs, consuming 7–10 eggs per day
Lady Beetles (Orange, Anchor-marked, Zigzag patterns): Both larvae and adults feed on BPH eggs and nymphs
Spiders:
Natural predators that help suppress planthopper populationsEntomopathogenic Fungi
Fungal pathogens that infect and kill Brown Planthoppers include:
- Beauveria bassiana (white fungus)
- Metarhizium spp. (green fungus)
- Hirsutella citriformis
These fungi invade the insect’s body and lead to death, especially in humid environments.
Light Traps
Take advantage of the insect’s attraction to light.
Use light traps to monitor and reduce population levels, particularly at night.
Chemical Control (With Caution)
Use insecticides only when necessary and rotate between chemical groups to avoid resistance:
Contact & Systemic Insecticides:
Organophosphates & Carbamates:
Long-used chemicals like acephate and carbarylNeonicotinoids:
Highly effective against sucking insectsExamples include:
- Dinotefuran (Starkle)
- Acetamiprid (Molan)
- Thiamethoxam (Actara)
- Clothianidin (Dantosu)
- Imidacloprid (Confidor, Provado)
- Thiacloprid (Calypso)
Important: Rotate chemical classes and apply only when absolutely needed to prevent resistance buildup.
Final Thoughts
Though small and short-lived, the Brown Planthopper reproduces rapidly and can devastate rice yields if left unchecked. Understanding its life cycle and behavior is essential for sustainable management. Combining biological control with selective chemical use offers the most balanced, eco-friendly solution for protecting one of Asia’s most vital crops.-21.jpg)
Brown Planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) — 3 High-Intent FAQs
Q: 1 How do I quickly tell Brown Planthopper (BPH) apart from green leafhoppers in the field?
A:- Color & shape: BPH is brown/gray, squat, with a thicker body; green leafhoppers are bright green and slimmer.
- Resting spot: BPH hides low on the plant near the waterline/plant base; leafhoppers sit higher on leaves.
- Movement: BPH tends to hop short distances or drop when disturbed; leafhoppers fly readily.
- Wing forms: BPH has short-winged and long-winged adults (both brownish).
- Damage cue: BPH causes hopperburn—patches of dried, bronzed hills starting from clumps; leafhoppers rarely cause that pattern and are more about virus transmission on leaves.
Q: 2 When should I spray for BPH—and what are practical monitoring thresholds?
A:- Sweep net: Start control when ≥20 BPH per 10 sweeps (rice >60 days) or ≥2 per 10 sweeps (seedling/young stage).
- Tillers/hill counts: Act when you see ~5–10 nymphs/adults per hill (depending on plant stage and variety susceptibility), or when hopperburn patches first appear.
- Light traps: Use at night to track flights; a sudden spike signals field scouting the next morning.
- Spray smart: Use non-flaring, systemic/contact options only after thresholds are met; rotate modes of action (e.g., alternate neonicotinoids with carbamates/organophosphates or other groups) to slow resistance. Always target nymphs (more exposed, less mobile) and spray toward the lower canopy/plant base where BPH feeds.
Q: 3 Why do BPH “explode” after broad-spectrum sprays, and what’s the best IPM to prevent outbreaks?
A:1) Why it happens: Non-selective sprays can kill natural enemies (e.g., Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, lady beetles, spiders) and flare BPH; high nitrogen and standing water favor rapid reproduction; continuous use of one chemical selects for resistance.
2) IPM playbook:
- Conserve predators: Avoid unnecessary sprays; choose selective actives and spot-treat hot spots.
- Fungi allies: In humid periods, apply Beauveria bassiana / Metarhizium spp. to suppress nymphs/adults.
- Crop & field tactics: Plant resistant/tolerant varieties when available; balance N (avoid over-fertilization); drain fields briefly to disrupt BPH at the base; remove volunteer rice/weed hosts.
- Chemistry as backup: If thresholds are exceeded, use well-timed, rotated MOAs (e.g., dinotefuran, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid—rotated with different groups) and direct spray to the plant base.
- Keep records: Log trap counts, sweeps, weather, and products used to refine timing and slow resistance.
Bottom line: Identify fast, monitor smart, protect natural enemies, and only spray when thresholds say so—your yield (and resistance management) will thank you.
