White Backed Plant Hopper : Sogatella furcifera  (Hovarth)(Hemiptera : Delphacidae)

Kannada name : Bili Bennina Jigi Hulu

Vernacular name : Bili dhomi, Solle

Adult: Tiny, straw coloured, wedge shaped insects with white stripe on their back.

Found in two forms,

• Macropterous (long winged) and brachypterous(short winged)

Nymph: White to light yellow, with white band on its thorax 

        

Eggs: Creamy white, elongate and curved (0.9 mm long and 0.2 mm wide)

Period of occurrence: 

• Tillering to Panicle initiation stage.
• WBPH is active throughout the year in southern states
• In northern regions activity in May in nursery and attains peak in August - September.

Extent of yield loss: 11-39 %  (Khatri et al., 1983).

Damaging stage of the insect: Nymphs and Adults

Damage symptoms:

• Leaves turn yellow and later brownish.
•  "Hopper burn".
• Sooty mould development due to honeydew secretion by hoppers.