September 6, 2025
The Rice Delphacid (RD) which was discovered in Texas in 2015, has now become a major threat to the U.S. Rice Production. RD is an invasive insect and has been a serious pest in rice in Central and South America and in the Caribbean. Since 2015 it has been causing serious damage to the rice production, however in 2025 the level of damage has intensified and is emerging as major threat to the U.S. Rice Production. The insect is also a vector of a disease called Rice Hojo Blanca Virus (RHBV). The RD is a sucking insect that directly injures rice plants by feeding and laying egg. Adult RDs are about ¼-inch in length and are brown in colour with a yellow stripe down the back. The feeding of insects can cause yellowing of leaves called “hopperburn.” Further, the insect also excretes a sticky substance called “honeydew” which leads to a growth of “sooty mold” on plant leaves which can potentially reduce photosynthesis
The RD is a Vector of Rice Hojo Blanca Virus (RHBV)
Further the invasive insect RD is also a vector of disease called Rice Hojo Blanca Virus (RHBV), which leads to severe reduction in tillering and plant height or can in severe cases can lead to death of plant also. As per the reports, the disease has led to losses approaching 50 percent of production.
Though the insect was discovered in Texas in 2015, the intensified damage of the pest has been noticed in 2025. Incidences of RHBV are also showing up much more frequently in ratoon fields. The Rice Delphacid insect was first detected in Louisiana in 2025, both in north Louisiana and Calcasieu Parish which is just across the Sabine River from Texas, as well as in Arkansas. Though the intensity of damage due to the insect is more visible in north Louisiana leading to insecticides being used in a number of fields. To counterpunch this emerging issue USA Rice recently facilitated the formation of the Delphacid Task Force. The taskforce includes team of researchers and extension scientists from all the southern rice producing states as well as consultants and farmers.
The Rice Delphacid prior to its discovery in 2015 in Texas was identified sporadically in the 50s and 60s and outbreaks of RHBV were reported in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Both the insect and the disease basically disappeared until its re-emergence in 2015.