Occurrence of Blissus leucopterus on rice in Brazil

Abstract

The chinch bug Blissus leucopterus (Say, 1832) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) is a harmful pest of pastures and cereals, including rice in many countries. The chinch bug causes yellowish plants, atrophy and death of young rice plants and destruction of panicles. Its occurrence was observed in paddy rice field located in the valleys of Formoso and Javaés rivers in Tocantins State, Brazil. This is the first time B. leucopterus has been reported occurring in rice in Brazil.