33 Biotic Environment, formerly Insect Environment Vol. 21(2&3) Oct-Dec 2015 Diversity of earhead bugs, Leptocorisa spp. in rice K. Elanchezhyan Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Killikulam, Vallanadu, Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu India. E-mail: drchezhiyanphd@gmail.com Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plays a major role in the economy of India. It is the second most important cereal crop after wheat, being staple food of southern and eastern Indian people. It is the principle source of energy in Asian diet. Rice industry generates employment and income for rural people. It contributes substantially in country’s foreign exchange earnings. One of the major yield limiting factors in rice cultivation is the attack of insect pests that causes 20-30 per cent losses every year. More than hundred species of the insects have been reported attacking the rice crop (Ahmad, 1981). Among these, about 15-20 insect species are known to be of paramount importance and are regularly seen in Tamil Nadu. The rice earhead bug, Leptocorisa spp. (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is the major sap sucking insect pest of rice. Both the nymphs and adults suck the sap from developing grains during milky stage and thus make them partial or completely chaffy under severe infestation. At the site of feeding small yellowish brown spot developed initially and enlarge later to form yellowish brown elliptical spot with greyish centre. Both nymphs and adults emit pungent odour when disturbed. Intermittent rains accompanied by high temperature during April - May were highly favorable for increased activity of the pest (Venkatesh et al., 2009). Recent studies have indicated that among these L. oratorius is common in South, West and Eastern regions, while L.acuta is dominant in North. Verma et al. (1979) reported that the extent of loss may extend up to 70 per cent. Keeping in view the above, an attempt has been made to identify the species complex of earhead bug in rice and the result of which will be useful for the scientists to work out for Integrated Pest Management, thus it will support the ultimate beneficiary the farming community. Totally 987 earhead bugs were collected from the field at Rice Research Institute, Ambasamudram during Kar and Pishanam seasons, 2013 - 2014. Among the 987 earhead bugs,