Morphology of haemocytes of healthy and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill.-infected Dicladispa armigera (Olivier) adults was examined in a phase contrast microscope to characterize them into different types. The total haemocyte count (THC) and the differential haemocyte count (DHC) were also estimated. Four types of haemocytes were identified: prohaemocyte, plasmatocyte, granulocyte and spherulocyte. In the healthy adults, the THC varied between 5055 and 5950/mm3, out of which 85% were composed of granulocytes and plasmatocytes. As B. bassiana infection time increased, THC decreased and was associated with a significant concomitant increase in granulocytes and a decrease in prohaemocytes. Granulocytes reacted in various ways, including disintegration of the plasma membrane, formation of fine pseudopod-like cytoplasmic extensions and finally, clumping of cells. Granulocytes and plasmatocytes were the predominant haemocytes involved in all the cell-mediated defence reactions.

Host searching, slit making, egg deposition and protection are distinct sequences of one event, which lead to oviposition on the lower surface of rice leaves by the rice hispa Dicladispa armigera (Olivier). Females spent an average of 8.05±1.35 min in selecting an oviposition site, 6.40±0.25 min in preparing a triangular slit, and 1.17±0.07 min in laying and protecting a single egg. An egg measuring 0.85×0.42 mm in size was partially inserted inside a slit of 1.95×0.84 mm. The female exhibited ovipositional preference among the leaves of a rice plant, as 67.5% of eggs were deposited in the first leaf. On the first, second and third leaf, the female deposited her eggs mostly in the middle part of the leaf blade, avoiding the area between 4.15–4.89 cm from the tip and 12.72–14.25 cm from the base of the leaf.