Green Leaf  Hopper : Nephotettix nigropictus Stal. and Nephotettix virescens Distant  (Hemiptera : Cicadellidae )

Kannada name: Hasiru Jigi Hulu

          

          Male                      Female                                            Nephotettix malayanus           Nephotettix virescens  

Period of occurrence :  Seedling to Panicle Initiation stage

Damaging stage of the insect : Nymphs and Adults

Alternate hosts: It also feeds on a number of grasses.

Factors favouring insect damage:

• Grasses near irrigation canals
• Rice rationing
• Low rainfall with high temperature
• Excess use of nitrogen
• Staggered planting

Life cycle :

Eggs: White, elongate or cigar shaped, laid in groups (3-18) on inner surface of leaf sheath. Incubation period: 6-7 days

Nymph: Transparent, white and shiny (0.9 - 3.1 mm), at maturity turns yellowish to green; Nymphal period: 18 days

Adult: N. nigropictus: Male with two black spots extending to balck distal portion of forewing, a black tinge along the anterior margin of pronotum and a submarginal black band on the crown of the head.

• There are about 6 overlapping generations from March to November. The insect overwinters in the adult stage.
• The pest population is the maximum in July - August and decreases markedly after a heavy rain.

 Damage symptoms:

• Stunted growth and reduced tillering.
• On tillers appearance of white patches at higher population level.

• Transmits virus diseases: tungro, yellow dwarf, yellow-orange leaf, and transitory yellowing.

                                                        

                                     GLH Dmage                                        Rice yellow dwarf