Rice hispa

Distribution

''Discladispa armigera'' is known to be widespread in the following countries: Bangladesh, India, and Laos. Additionally, ''D. armigera'' is present, but not wide-spread in: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Papua New Guinea.

Behavior

The high reproductive potential and short generation time are significant contributors to the success of this species. Adults mate for the first time after 3–7 days. Mating is a complex and precisely determined process. Precopulatory behavior, including courtship, mounting, and activation of the female last a few seconds to a few minutes. Copulation requires ~1 hour. Postcopulatory behaviors are brief.

Reproduction

Rice hispa eggs laid by the female beetle are usually inserted beneath the epidermis of the underside of leaves. Occasionally, the eggs are also laid on the top side of leaves. The eggs are minute, covered in a dark substance, and laid singly. Each female lays a total of between 18 and 101 eggs in their lifetime, with an average of 55. The incubation period is about four days.The larvae, on hatching, are ~2.4mm long, dorsoventrally flattened, and pale yellow. They mine into the leaf, feeding on the green tissues and only leaving the two epidermal layers. The activity of the larvae will often leave an irregular discolored pattern on the leaf. Larvae will feed and pupate within the leaf, without needing to migrate to a fresh leaf. A fully grown larvae is ~5.5 mm long, dorsoventrally flattened, and a dull pale yellow. The larval period lasts for 7–12 days, and is followed by pupation.