Question

Pyrilla is a
A. A character of ancient Greek mythology
B. An insect pest
C. Disease of teeth and gums
D. A building heated by solar energy

Answer 1

Hint:It is native to Asia and is a major sugarcane pest and feeds on grasses and other plants. It feeds its host by placing its style in a leaf and sucking phloem sap.

Complete answer:
Pyrilla is a kind of bug in the Lophopinae and Lophopini subfamily. The planthopper in the Lophopidae family is pyrilla perpusilla, commonly called sugarcane planthopper. It is native to Asia and is a major sugarcane pest and feeds on grasses and other plants. P. perpusilla, an adult, has an elongated snout with piercing and sucking mouthpieces and a smooth body. The wingspan of males is about 20 mm and females slightly lower, with an average of 17 mm. The eggs are ovoid, yellowish-green and 2 mm long. Nymphs are creamy-white, with long filaments projected near the anus at every instar level.

Pyrilla is a significant pest of sugarcane. The hopper feeds its host by placing its stylet in a leaf and sucking phloem sap. Excess fluid is excreted when honeydew and molds are made. By losing the sap and reducing the photosynthesis caused by the calming mould, the vigor of this plant is diminished. On the leaves there are brown patches that can also be discolored. The leaves will wilt, becoming dry and brown later. There are at least 16 natural invertebrates in P. perpusilla in India; some are parasitoids that attack eggs and young nymphs, and others, predators and parasitoids of older nymphs and adults.

Thus, the correct answer is option B. i.e., An insect pest.

Note:Pyrilla is the sugarcane's most damaging foliage sucking insect. Heavy rainfall accompanied by 75 to 80% precipitation, occasional drought, high temperatures and movement of the wind encourages the swift production of the pest. The top leaves dry out in the canes affected and side buds germinate due to a persistent deterioration by vast numbers of hoppers. The hopper exudes a sweet sticky fluid called honeydew, which fosters the species.