Pure line populations of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Ståi), are needed for identifying new genetic sources of resistance. Among the known N. lugens biotypes in the Philippines, Biotype 1 can infest rice cultivare which lack genes for resistance. Biotype 2 can damage cultivars carrying Bph1 resistance gene, in addition to those that are susceptible to Biotype 1. Biotype 3 can infest rice cultivars carrying bph2 resistance gene, in addition to those susceptible to Biotype 1. In the greenhouse Biotypes 1, 2, and 3 are maintained on TN1 (no resistance gene), Mudgo (Bph1 gene) and ASD7 (bph2 gene) rice plants, respectively. Because Biotype 1 population is reared on TN1 plants, susceptible to all the three biotypes, accidental infestations of Biotype 1, Biotype 2 and Biotype 3 cannot be ruled out.

N. lugens biotypes were separated from each other by their differential ingestion and assimilation of food on different susceptible and resistant rice cultivars. A homogeneous population of Biotype 1 of N. lugens was produced from single pairs of males and females selected on the basis of their low food intake on rice cultivars Mudgo and ASD7. The purity of such Biotype 1 population was further demonstrated for three generations based on differential nymphal growth and development and adult longevity and fecundity on resistant Mudgo and ASD7 and on the susceptible TN1 rice cultivars. The technique can also be useful in identifying biotypes of other sucking insect pests.

Resistant rice varieties have proved to be highly effective against the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), but their long-term stability is threatened because of the evolution of prolific biotypes. At present, identification of biotypes is based principally on the differential reactions of host rice varieties to pest in greenhouse screenings and in field plantings of test nurseries at many locations. So far, three N. lugens biotypes that attack different rice varieties have been identified in the Philippines. Biotype 1 can survive on and damage only those varieties that do not carry any genes for resistance. Biotype 2 can thrive on varieties carrying Bph 1 resistance gene and on those susceptible to biotype 1. Biotype 3 can infest and destroy varieties having bph 2 resistance gene and those susceptible to biotype 1. However, none of these biotypes is capable of damaging varieties with Bph 3 and bph 4 genes for resistance, and the variety Ptb 33 carrying two unidentified genes is resistant to almost all known biotypes. Recently, a population of N. lugens was found thriving on the common weed grass Leersia hexandra Swartz on the IRRI farm and in some locations in Luzon, Philippines. This biotype does not survive on rice.

Several varieties which are resistant in the Philippines are susceptible in India and Sri Lanka because the South Asian biotypes of N. lugens are more virulent than the Southeast Asian biotypes. To monitor the pest biotypes in different geographical regions and to identify new sources of resistance, an International Rice Brown Planthopper Nursery (IRBPHN) has been established in many cooperating Asian countries.

Biotypes can also be differentiated by studying their behavioural and physiological responses to plants of known genotypes. Distinctive differences can be observed in insect feeding, growth, longevity, fecundity, oviposition and population increase on differential varieties and relative susceptibility or tolerance for hosts' allelochemics. Recent investigations of the existence of subtle morphological, cytological, and electrophoretic differences among N. lugens biotypes and results of hybridization experiments strongly complement other methods of biotype identification.

The evolution of biotypes is a complex process that is governed by the interactions of the genetic and other biological characteristics of the pest populations and the genetic makeup of cultivated varieties. While the strategy of sequential release of varieties with major resistance genes has been fairly successful, the monogenic nature of those varieties makes them vulnerable to the development of virulent pest biotypes. Therefore, present breeding endeavors envisage use of both major and minor resistance genes for effective pest suppression.