Leptocorisa acuta

Leptocorisa acuta,^[1] the paddy earhead bug,^[2] is a species of bug recorded from northern Australia, Malesia and Taiwan.^[3] Its basionym is Cimex acutus and it is now placed in the family Alydidae. One of several rice bug species, it may be confused with Leptocorisa oratoria.

Leptocorisa acuta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Family:	Alydidae
Subfamily:	Micrelytrinae
Tribe:	Leptocorisini
Genus:	Leptocorisa
Species:	L. acuta
Binomial name
Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg, 1783)
Synonyms
Cimex acutus Thunberg, 1783 Cimex angustatus Fabricius, 1787 Gerris varicornis Fabricius, 1803 Leptocorisa burmeisteri Montrouzier, 1865 Leptocorisa flavida Guérin-Méneville, 1831 Rhabdocoris arcuata Kolenati, 1845

Pest status

Rice bugs can be a significant pest of the rice plant, as they feed-on developing (milk stage) grains: reducing crop quality and sometimes yield. Because attacks occur near to harvest, if farmers spray insecticides in an attempt to control outbreaks, they risk leaving harmful pesticide residues on the crop.

It is also a pest of sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet in Asia.^[2]

Gallery

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  Leptocorisa acuta
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  Rice Bug eggs