Black planthopper (Ricania speculum) - Agricultural Pest

The Black planthopper (Ricania speculum) is a planthopper from the Ricaniidae family, found in low-elevation mountains and preferring dark environments in China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It is currently being introduced to northern Italy and is being considered a significant agricultural pest for crops like apples, coffee, oil palms, and citrus. This dark brown insect is having striking, often reflective wings that feature irregular transparent patches and a central wavy horizontal band, giving it a moth-like appearance. These insects are feeding on sap from host plants and are having one generation per year, with eggs overwintering in the bark. This video is being taken in a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on October 22, 2025.