Sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) and yield loss of rice

The sap-sucking rates of the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) Sogatella furcifera (Horv.) (Homoptera, Delphacidae) were examined under a series of experimental conditions in the laboratory. The sucking rate increased with the age of the planthopper. The relative sucking rate of nymphs at the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th instars and macropterous male adult was 0.19, 0.27, 0.37, 0.49, 0.59, 0.69, and 1 of that of macropterous female adult (set as standard insect [SI]), respectively. The SI sucked at a maximum rate from rice plants at tillering stage. In indica rice varieties, the SI had higher sucking rate than in japonica varieties. The effect of temperature on sucking rate could be described by an exponential quadratic equation. A power equation (W = 0.0001S^1.8107) could be used to transfer the relative sucking rate in area (S, mm²) of honeydew excreted by WBPH into absolute dry mass weight (W, mg). The relationship between injury to rice by WBPH in cage and yield loss assessment showed that yield loss was mainly caused by decreased filling percentage of kernels and kernel weights rather than the number of panicles and spikelets per panicle. Finally, experimental results were integrated to a formula that links percentage of yield loss and sucking equivalence of WBPH.