Cecile Joy Y. Duatin | Lorenza B. de Pedro
The biology of the taro planthopper was studied in the laboratory using taro as food. The total developmental periods of the male and fem ale plant-hoppers are ± 30.86 days and ± 31.29 days, respectively. The insect under-goes five nymphal instars with a duration of 1.31 and 1.25 da)'S in males and females for the first stadium to 17.58 and 17.50 days for the fifth stadium. The fem ale hopper lives longer than the male. Both sexes are morpho-logically similar except in size and genital structures. Low percentage mortality (80Jo) was observed during the first to the third instar.