- Widespread distribution. Asia, Central America, Oceania. On rice and grasses. An important pest.
- Egg laid on the midribs of leaves, nymphs like adults, but wingless. Adults 15 mm, brown, white underneath, narrow.
- Contents of seed sucked out when still soft, becoming shrivelled and small.
- Natural enemies: wasp parasitoids.
- Cultural control: weed within and around fields; avoid overlapping crops; in small plots, sweep to catch bugs (morning and evening); burn grass on bunds and around fields after harvest.
- Chemical control: synthetic pyrethroids, but will kill natural enemies.
