Objective  Moving behavior of brown planthoppers, Nilaparvata lugens, one of the worst pests in rice fields, were studied.

  Method  The moving behavior of adult macropterous as well as brachypterous male and female brown planthoppers were observed with a motion sensor and an automatic counter in an enclosed chamber.

  Result  The 4 categories of brown planthoppers displayed significantly different patterns of motions. The males moved significantly more frequently than the females. The macropterous males were most active at 1290.0±11.93 times totally during the observation, while the brachypterous females at the minimum of 480.7±19.36.The males tended to move more frequently at night than during daytime; whereas, the females, under day light, particularly the brachypterous females which devoted only 36% of the activity at night.

  Conclusion  There appeared repeat patterns for the different categories of brown planthoppers in moving around that could be of value for the pest control.