General Information

Common name: Rice black bug
Scientific name: Scotinophara coarctata, S. lurida
Hemiptera:Pentatomidae

Synonyms: Malaysian rice black bug, Japanese rice black bug

Host plants

Rice and corn

Distribution

Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand

Damage

Both the adults and nymphs suck the plant saps. They prefer to infest the bases of the rice stems causing the plant to weaken. Heavy infestation causes stunted growth, formation of white heads, half-filled or empty grains, and browning of leaves or bug burn.

Description

The eggs are round, greenish or pinkish in color. The eggs are laid in groups of 15 in parallel rows on the lower leaves near the water surface, on stems, roots and on soil cracks. Egg incubation takes in about 4-7 days.

The nymphs are brown or yellow in color. Black spots are visible on their bodies. Different nymphal instars vary in sizes. Six nymphal instars are completed in 29-35 days.

The adult is white and tinged with green and pink and turns shiny brownish black to shiny black as it matures. It is 8-9 mm long. The adult is very active. It prefers to feed on the rice stem than on the leaves. During the day, the adults are found at the base of the plant and at nighttime they move upwards.