Table of content
- Introduction of the Insect
- Classification
- Distribution and Status
- Identification
- Problems with Identical signs
- Habit and Habitat
- Life cycle (Bionomics)
- Damage
- Common signs and symptoms of infestation
- Symptoms of damage
- Why is it important?
- Management
- Cultural practices
- Biological control
- Chemical treatment
- Restrictions
- Genome sequences
- Published research.
- References
Zigzag leaf hopper
Introduction of the Insect
The zigzag leafhopper (Recilia dorsalis) is an insect belonging to the family Cicadellidae, known for its distinctive zigzag pattern when it jumps. The zigzag leafhopper is a small insect, typically ranging from 3 to 4 millimeters in length. It is often green or brown, providing camouflage that helps it blend in with plant foliage. The characteristic zigzag pattern is evident when the leafhopper jumps, creating a noticeable trajectory.
English name Zigzag leaf hopper
Bangla name আঁকাবাঁকা পাতা ফড়িং
Scientific name Recilia dorsalis
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Auchenorrhyncha
Family: Cicadellidae
Subfamily: Deltocephalinae Tribe-Deltocephalini
Genus: Recilia
Species: R. dorsalis
Widely distributed in Asia from India to Australia.This species is widespread in Japan and southeast Asia. Cheo in 1935 (127) reported it from Ceylon, Japan, India, Borneo, Formosa, China, and the Malay Peninsula. It is also common in the Philippines (Rivera et al., 647). (Nielson, 1968)
Host Range
Rice (Oryza sativa), Maize, Sugarcane, Sorghum, Various Grasses and Weeds
Small, linear species. Length of male 3.20—3.40 mm., female 3.70—3.80 mm. (Nielson, 1968)General colour light grey. Crown and pronotum light grey with light infuscations of brown; elytra grey with conspicuous broad, brown, zigzag longitudinal band.(Nielson, 1968)Pygofer in lateral aspect about 11/3 times as long as wide, caudal margin obliquely truncate; aedeagus in lateral aspect fused to connective; shaft tubelike, narrow, sharply attenuated apically, large sagittal groove on dorsal surface in dorsal aspect; style in dorsal aspect simple, apex narrowed; female seventh sternum in ventral aspect with caudal margin distinctly truncate. (Nielson, 1968)R. dorsalis is among the easiest of the rice-associated leafhoppers to identify by virtue of the distinctive markings of the fore- wings in both males and females, hence the name ‘zig-zag leafhopper’.(Wilson & Claridge 1991)
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Grassy weeds and volunteer rice in fallow fields attract the zigzag leafhopper and the viruses it transmit to exist between rice crops.
The rice zigzag leafhopper is found in all rice environments. It is abundant during the early rainy season in the early growth stages of the rice plant. It rarely occurs in large numbers. The adults usually stay in the upper parts of the rice plants.
A high population density of the zigzag leafhopper occurs in seedbeds and weeds between planting seasons.
1. Egg Stage: The life cycle begins with the female zigzag leafhopper laying eggs on suitable host plants, often on the undersides of leaves. The eggs are generally elongated and laid in rows.
2. Nymphal Stages: Once the eggs hatch, nymphs emerge. Nymphs resemble smaller versions of the adults but are wingless. Nymphs go through several instar stages, shedding their exoskeletons as they grow. Each instar stage looks more like the adult, and their coloration may change during development.
3. Adult Stage: After completing the nymphal stages, the zigzag leafhopper becomes an adult. Adults have wings and are capable of flying. They exhibit the characteristic zigzag jumping pattern when disturbed. Adult zigzag leafhoppers feed on plant sap using their piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Zigzag leafhoppers can cause damage to crops by directly feeding on plant sap, which can lead to stunting, yellowing, and reduced crop yield. They are also known vectors of plant diseases, transmitting pathogens from infected plants to healthy ones as they feed. R. dorsalis seldom occurs in large numbers in ricefields and so does not cause severe damage by direct feeding. It is capable of transmitting rice viruses such as Rice tungro bacilliform virus, Rice tungro spherical virus, Rice dwarf virus and Rice orange-leaf virus, but does so at low efficiency (Chancellor, 1995).
1. Yellowing or stippling on plant leaves due to feeding damage.
2. Presence of nymphs and adults on the underside of leaves.
3. The characteristic zigzag jumping pattern when the insects are disturbed.
Rice When heavily infested with R. dorsalis, seedlings can be killed. On older plants, leaf tops die and a slight orange colour may spread from the margins to the entire leaf. Older leaves are affected first. Leafhopper nymphs and adults excrete honeydew while feeding. Honeydew is attractive to ants because of its sugar content and may later be infected with sooty moulds.R. dorsalis can transmit Rice tungro bacilliform virus, Rice tungro spherical virus, Rice dwarf virus and Rice orange-leaf virus.
n large numbers, these insects become important because they transmit viral diseases such as rice tungro, dwarf, and orange leaf viruses. They also feed on the rice plant during almost all the stages of the crop particularly during the vegetative stage. Its low population, however, makes the insect a minor pest of rice.
There are parasites and predators that help regulate the population of this insect. Mymarid wasps and the mirid bugs prey on the eggs. Dryinid wasps and pipunculid flies parasitize both the adults and the nymphs and spiders eat the adults. Natural enemies, such as predators and parasitoids, play a role in biological control. Insecticides may be used when populations reach damaging levels, but careful consideration of environmental impact is crucial.
‘Clean’ ricefields were found to be effective in minimizing R. dorsalis populations (Pathak, 1977). Grassy weeds and volunteer rice in fallow fields allow the zigzag leafhoppers and the viruses they transmit to exist between rice crops. Reissig et al. (1985) suggested that fallow fields should be kept free of vegetation between rice crops.
Like other homopterans found in tropical rice systems, zigzag leafhopper populations in the field are normally well regulated by parasites and predators.
Encourage biological control agents: mymarid wasp, mirid bug, dryinid wasp and pipunculid flies, spiders.
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