Welcome to our blog on managing damaging insect pests in rice! Insects can wreak havoc on rice crops, causing significant damage and reducing yields. Identifying the symptoms of insect infestations is crucial for timely intervention. We’ll explore common signs to watch out for and explore effective prevention and management strategies.
By understanding these pests’ life cycles and habits, we can implement sustainable methods to protect our rice fields. Join us as we navigate this informative journey and learn how to safeguard our rice crops from these pesky invaders.
Major Damaging Insect Pests In Rice/Paddy
In India, rice faces a higher number of insect attacks compared to any other cereal crop. Among these pests, we have the major insect pests that significantly threaten rice cultivation. These include planthoppers, stem borers, gall midge, leaf folders, earhead-cutting caterpillars, rice case worms, rice hispa, and more. These pests can cause severe damage to rice plants, affecting their growth and ultimately reducing yields.
How to Manage Insect Pests In Rice/PaddyDamage: Symptoms, Prevention, and Management
BPH or Brown Plant Hopper (Nilaparvata lugens)
- Identification: Look for a prominent tibial spur on the 3rd leg.
- Damage Symptoms: Hopper burn.
- Prevention and Management: Use Triaziphos insecticide.
- Additional Information: Economic Threshold Level (ETL) is 1 BPH per tiller. BPH is a vector for the grassy stunt virus.
Earhead bug (Leptocorisa oratoria)
- Identification: Slender bug with a characteristic odor from the adult.
- Damage Symptoms: Chaffy grains and black spots on the feeding surface.
- Prevention and Management: Maintain ETL at five bugs per earhead and use Quinalphos insecticide.
- Additional Information: Also known as the Gundhi bug.
Gall midge (Orseolia oryzae)
- Identification: It is a fly with a yellowish-green color, similar to a mosquito.
- Damage Symptoms: Formation of silver shoots and absence of panicles.
- Prevention and Management: Monitor for 10% silver shoots and consider using the parasite Platygaster oryzae.
- Additional Information: Silver shoot is also known as onion leaf.
GLH or Green Leaf Hopper (Cicadella viridis)
- Identification: Bright green adults with black spots.
- Damage Symptoms: Yellowing or drying of leaves starting from the tip.
- Prevention and Management: Maintain the population at five insects per hill before flowering.
- Additional Information: GLH is a vector for the tungro virus.
Grasshopper (Hieroglyphus banian)
- Identification: Green body with transverse black lines above the pronotum.
- Damage Symptoms: Irregular feeding on leaves and presence of left midrib.