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Billbug - Sphenophorus spp.
Bill bugs belong to the beetle family Curculionidae (weevils) and are a relative of the rice water weevil. Larvae are small white C-shape grubs with red-orange head capsule. They feed within the rice stem near the base of the plant. Adults feed near the base of young rice plant. Their chewing mouthparts are found at the end of a long “snout”. The bill bug feeding appears to be injuring the heart of the tiller, causing death of the new leaf (dead heart).
Click on the links above to go to the Bill Bug home page or the Rice Insects Photo Galleries home page.
The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture
