Conclusions/Significance: Overall variation in feeding behaviour was highly correlated with previously published field
resistance or susceptibility of the different rice varieties: BPH produced lower numbers of honeydew drops and had a
shorter period of phloem feeding on resistant rice varieties, but there was no significant difference in the time to the first
salivation (N4-b). These qualitative differences in behaviour suggest that resistance is caused by differences in sustained
phloem ingestion, not by phloem location. Cluster analysis of the feeding and honeydew data split the 12 rice varieties into
three groups: susceptible, moderately resistant and highly resistant. The screening methods that we have described
uncover novel aspects of the resistance mechanism (or mechanisms) of rice to BPH and will in combination with molecular
approaches allow identification and development of new control strategies.