Occurrence of sogatodes pusanus (distans) [homoptera: delphacidae] in the rice ecosystem of Tanjong Karang

M.S. Mohamed and B. Abd. Hamed

Abstract

A new planthopper closely resembles whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvath), was discovered in rice fields at Pasir Panjang. Tanjong Karang, Selangor. It was identified as Sogatodes pusanus (Distant) belonging to Family Delphacidae. Nymphs and brachypterous adults have a pale yellow stripe running down from the head to the tip of abdomen. Macropterous adults which resemble S. furcifera, have a pale yellow stripe on the vertex and the thorax, and several crescent-shaped fuscous apical cells of the forewings. From the studies conducted, S. pusanus not only preferred barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, to the rice plant, but also laid eggs only on this grass. The hopper has five nymphal instars requiring 11-16 days to reach the adult stage.

Full Text (373 KB)