Insect biology, feeding habits, and hopper burn damage
Understanding the biology and population dynamics of BPH allows farmers to detect and suppress infestations before catastrophic damage occurs.
- Habitat preference: Nymphs and macropterous (winged) or brachypterous (short-winged) adults congregate at the water-line stem base.
- Sap drainage: Continuous phloem feeding deprives rice plants of carbohydrates, causing leaves to turn yellow, dry out, and collapse.
- Hopper burn: Severe feeding causes large circular, dried, brown patches across paddy fields that resemble scorched vegetation.
- Disease transmission: BPH acts as an active vector for destructive rice ragged stunt and grassy stunt viral diseases.
Economic threshold level (ETL) and field monitoring
Routine field scouting starting at 30 days after transplanting is essential for early detection.
- Economic Threshold Level (ETL): 5 to 10 hoppers per hill during vegetative stages; 15 to 20 hoppers per hill during flowering.
- Field scouting method: Gently bend rice hills over standing water to count dislodged floating nymphs and adults.
- Alleyway formation: Leaving an unplanted row (alleyway) after every 8 to 10 rows improves aeration, sunlight penetration, and spray access.
- Nitrogen management: Avoid excess or split applications of urea, which promote succulent foliage and accelerate hopper reproduction.
Chemical management and preservation of natural enemies
When hopper counts cross the ETL, apply targeted planthopper insecticides such as Pymetrozine 50% WG, Triflumezopyrim 10% SC, or Flonicamid 50% WG directed at the lower stem base. Avoid indiscriminate sprays of synthetic pyrethroids, which flare BPH populations by destroying natural predators like wolf spiders (Lycosa pseudoannulata) and mirid bugs (Cyrtorhinus lividipennis).
Official source
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Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is hopper burn in paddy crops?
Hopper burn refers to large dried, brown, scorched patches in rice fields caused by thousands of planthoppers simultaneously sucking stem sap.
What is the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) for Brown Plant Hopper?
Chemical intervention is recommended when scouting reveals 5 to 10 hoppers per hill during early stages, or 15 to 20 hoppers per hill after flowering.
Why does spraying synthetic pyrethroids often worsen BPH attacks?
Synthetic pyrethroids kill beneficial predatory spiders and mirid bugs while failing to reach inner stem hoppers, triggering rapid resurgence.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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