Starvation tolerance of macropter brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, from temperate, subtropical, and tropical populations in East and South‐East Asia

Abstract

We compared the starvation tolerance of macropter brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål (Homoptera: Delphacidae), a characteristic favoring long-distance migration, among populations collected from subtropical and temperate East Asia, tropical Indochina, and the Malay Peninsula. Starvation tolerance of planthoppers was significantly affected by climatic zone in which the planthoppers had been collected and by feeding duration after adult eclosion. After 24 h feeding on rice, newly emerged macropters originating from East Asia lived longer without feeding (starvation tolerance) than macropters from the tropical populations. The difference in longevity between the two groups of populations became more conspicuous when macropters fed on rice for 48 or 72 h, indicating that post-eclosion feeding markedly increased starvation tolerance in East Asian populations relative to the tropical populations. These facts provide evidence that N. lugens populations that are adapted for long-distance migration are distributed in subtropical and temperate East Asia. From the data on post-eclosion feeding together with starvation tolerance, we discuss the timing of planthopper takeoff from paddies and the difference in resource allocation (vitellogenesis or stored resources) between East Asian and tropical populations.

Whole genome sequencing of 358 brown planthoppers uncovers the landscape of their migration and dispersal worldwide

“…BPH strains in different regions show phenotypic variation. Subtropical and temperate East Asian macropters were more adapted to migration with longer pre-oviposition periods and stronger starvation tolerance 14 , while tropical Asian strains (Southern Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines) were more adapted to reproduction 15 . BPH strains in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania showed distinct virulence reactions to some rice varieties 16,17 , which suggests the exists of genetic difference among regional populations.…”

Rice Planthoppers

“…4.2). Further, Wada et al (2009) reported that macropters originated from East Asia were more tolerant to starvation than those from tropical countries. Macropters feed actively on rice for the first 2 or 3 days after eclosion (Tanaka 1999).…”

“…Figure 4.3 illustrates a typical example showing the difference in longevity of macropters between temperate and tropical populations, in relation to posteclosion feeding. Taken pre-ovipositional periods into consideration, Wada et al (2009) suggested the difference in resource allocation (vitellogenesis or stored resources) between East Asia and tropical populations: Macropters of East Asia populations invest energy intake from feeding mainly on reserves, which enhance starvation tolerance, while those of tropical populations invest on ovary development as well as stored reserves.…”

Development of an ELISA for evaluating the reproductive status of female brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, by measuring vitellogenin and vitellin levels

“…The reproductive status of BPH females has been the main factor used to determine natural population dynamics and ecological infrastructure of BPH females in rice fields (Chelliah et al, 1980), and reproductive status was also related to migration of BPH (Wada et al, 2009). Several indicators and methods have been adopted to evaluate the reproductive status of BPH females, such as ovary dissection and classification, and their pre-oviposition period (Chen et al, 1979;Wada et al, 2007).…”