The influence of host-plant on the development of the adult brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and its significance in migration

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The development of adults of Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) reared on one susceptible and one resistant variety of rice plants of different ages was compared. Throughout the range of plants tested there was an overall trend for the newly moulted adult to synthesise and store a reserve of lipid and to lose most of the stored glycogen accumulated during the nymphal stage. N. lugens has two wing morphs, and whilst lipid deposits were greatest in the macropterous ‘migrant’ males, in females it was the brachypterous ‘reproductive’ insects that had the highest lipid deposits and also the greatest residual body weight. However, because of their lower body weight, the macropterous females had the greater percentage of lipid. Both flight willingness and the percentage of macropterous females showing flight-orientated physiological development increased with the age of the host-plant. Both survival and migration potential were lower in insects reared on the resistant rice variety compared to those reared on the susceptible variety. The pattern of post-flight resynthesis of fuels suggests that more than one major migration is unlikely.