Discussion
The field investigation has indicated that 74.5% (1377 of 1849 specimens)
or 51.5% (17 of 33 species) of tropical rice leafhoppers and
planthoppers were infected with Wolbachia. Wolbachia infections have
been reported in many arthropod species but only a few in leafhoppers
and planthoppers from rice agroecosystems. Most leafhopper and
planthopper species collected in this study were in the family
Cicadellidae and the family Delphacidae which both families have
been known to be important pests in rice field. Most individuals were
collected from paddies with growing rice, paddies with ratooning rice,
and paddies with dense grass which have been reported on the outbreak
of these insect pests in many provinces throughout Thailand.