Brown Planthopper

The most destructive insect pest of rice in Asia, the brown planthopper (BPH) causes direct damage through heavy sap feeding and transmits Rice ragged stunt virus and Rice grassy stunt virus. Massive outbreaks ('hopperburn') can destroy entire rice fields within days. BPH has repeatedly resurgence-prone — insecticide sprays kill natural enemies, leading to explosive BPH population rebounds.

Adults are small (4-5 mm) brown planthoppers with two wing forms: macropterous (long-winged, for migration) and brachypterous (short-winged, in established colonies). They congregate at the base of rice stems near the waterline. Nymphs are smaller, whitish to pale brown, also found at stem bases.

• 1

  Part rice stems at the base and look for brown insects at the stem-water interface — BPH congregates there

• 2

  Hopperburn (circular spreading dead patches) in a rice field is almost always BPH

• 3

  Sticky honeydew at stem bases and on water surface indicates active BPH colony

• 4

  Tap stems over a white tray — BPH nymphs and adults fall and are easily counted

• 5

  Use a sweep net at the base of the canopy for population monitoring

• Hopperburn — circular patches of yellowed then browned, dead rice plants spreading outward in the field

• Heavy honeydew production at the base of plants — leaves and water surface become sticky and shiny

• Sooty mold growing on honeydew deposits

• Plants wilting and drying despite adequate water

• Dense masses of hoppers visible at stem bases when plants are parted

Brown Planthopper can attack 1 crop species.