Feeding behavior of rice bug Leptocorisa chinensis (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Alydidae) nymphs on rice panicles and rice plant extract

Abstract

The feeding behavior of the rice bug Leptocorisa chinensis (Heteroptera: Alydidae) on the panicles of Oryza sativa rice was observed. The nymphs showed typical behavioral phases towards the rice panicles: antennation, extension of the rostrum, repeated dabbing with the labium, rostrum placing on the plant surface, stylet penetration and continuous sucking. The nymphs also showed similar behavioral phases except for continuous sucking on filter paper treated with a methanol extract of rice panicles. The frequency of bugs showing antennation and repeated dabbing was significantly higher on filter paper with the rice extract than on the control. These results suggest that there are chemical cues in rice panicles which stimulate behavior such as antennation and repeated dabbing by rice bugs.