The scientific name of *Donacia provosti* Fairmaire belongs to the order Coleoptera, specifically within the genus *Donacia*. Commonly known as rice root leafhopper, rice rootworm, food root insect, car dung insect, rice insect, and rice bean insect, it is often mistaken for aphids. This pest is widely distributed across China, including Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Beijing, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Sichuan, and Guizhou. In addition, there are three other species of rice root leafhoppers in China: *D. frontalis*, found in Heilongjiang, Beijing, Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangxi; *D. lenzi*, present in Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Taiwan; and *D. tuberfrons*, which is native to Yunnan and Sichuan.
The host plants of *Donacia provosti* include Daogen, Yingbai, dwarf arrowhead, lotus root, Chinese wolfberry, eye dish, and duck tongue grass. Both larvae and adults cause damage to these plants. The larvae feed on fibrous roots, while the adults consume leaves. Infested plants become stunted, yellow, and weak, with rotting roots, significantly affecting crop yield and quality.
Morphologically, adult *Donacia provosti* are 6–9 mm long and 2–3.2 mm wide. They have a green-brown body with a metallic sheen, and their head ranges from greenish-purple to purple-black. The antennae are partially brown, with reddish-brown bases and dark brown tips. The pronotum is pale green or gold green, while the elytra display a chestnut-brown color with a greenish luster. Some individuals show blue-green tones. The hind legs have dark blue spots and a metallic sheen. The ventral surface is covered with silvery hair.
The head is finely engraved and hairy, with a raised frontal tumor. The first segment of the antenna is notably swollen. The prothoracic plate is nearly square with horizontal wrinkles. The small scutellum is triangular and lacks hair in the middle. The elytra are smooth and wrinkle-free, with thicker engravings at the base than at the end. The hind legs are slender, narrow at the base, and enlarged in the middle, ending with a large tooth.
Compared to the other three species, *D. provosti* differs in several features. The head and eyes of the short-legged root species are more prominent, with thickened leg joints and abruptly narrowed elytra on the back and sides. In *D. equinus* from Yunnan, the front is more pronounced, and the pronotum has deeper wrinkles. Female specimens have a conical protrusion at the end. The second and third segments of the antennae in *D. multi-toothed* are similar in length. The head tumor is less noticeable, except for the hind leg ends, which have multiple small teeth. All species have metallic-colored bodies without a brown chestnut background.
Eggs are oval, slightly flattened, and laid in clusters. They are pale yellow, with about 20 eggs per cluster. The final instar larvae measure 9–10 mm, with small heads, swollen abdomens, and white bodies. They have three pairs of thoracic legs, no abdominal legs, and a pair of tail hooks at the end. The pupae are white, approximately 8 mm long, and have a thin, reddish-brown coating.
In most regions, *Donacia provosti* completes one life cycle per year. However, in northern China, some populations may take over two years. Larvae overwinter 16–30 cm below the soil surface, in roots, or near water. When the soil temperature at 15 cm reaches 18°C, larvae emerge. At 23°C, they move to the soil surface. Feeding begins in late April to early May, and the larval stage lasts until May through August. By July, adults emerge and begin mating and laying eggs. The hatching period occurs between late July and early August, with adults overwintering by October. The damage period typically starts about a month earlier than expected.
In Hubei, lotus roots are affected in May and early June, with all life stages appearing after June. Adult insects are most active in July. Eggs are laid on the backs of eye dish, rice, lotus, and clover leaves. The egg stage lasts 6–9 days, with hatching occurring mostly between 14:00 and 18:00. After hatching, larvae climb into the soil to feed on roots. A single underground stem may contain dozens of larvae. The larval period can last over 10 months before pupation. The pupal stage takes 15–17 days, after which adults emerge and climb to the surface. They rest on leaves, mate, and lay eggs within 1–3 days. The egg-laying period lasts 4–8 days, and adult lifespan is 7–11 days. Each female lays an average of 130 eggs. Adults are active but can enter a dormant state when disturbed.
For prevention and control, winter drainage in Putian and Cigu fields can reduce overwintering populations. Crop rotation and weed removal are recommended, along with incorporating aquatic plants like *Potamogeton edulis* and *Monochoria viridis* into the soil. Applying 100 kg of lime per 667 m² and tilling the field can also help. Adult insects can be attracted using light traps and then destroyed by burning or deep burial. During the initial damage phase, soil applications such as tea cake powder (20 kg/667m²) or 50% phoxim granules (3 kg/667m²) can be used. Alternatively, 50% phoxim EC (160 ml) mixed with 1.5 kg of water and 30 kg of fine dry soil can be applied in the afternoon or evening. The treated area should be kept at a depth of 3.3 cm for 3 days before resuming normal irrigation.
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