Brown Planthopper

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens is a planthopper species that feeds on rice plants. They infest the rice crop at all stages of plant growth. As a result of feeding by both nymphs and adults at the base of the tillers, plants turn yellow and dry up rapidly. At early infestation, round, yellow patches appear, which soon turn brownish due to the drying up of the plants. This condition is called ‘hopper burn’. Temperature is a critical factor in the life activities of the insect. The hatchability and survival rate are the highest around 25 °C. Eggs are very sensitive to desiccation and soon shrivel when the host plant starts wilting. The population growth of brown plant hopper is maximum at a temperature range of 28 to 30 °C.