Major economic insect pests of paddy
Different insect pests target specific growth phases of the rice plant.
Key economic pests:
- Yellow stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas): Larvae bore into stems causing 'dead hearts' in vegetative tillers and empty white panicles ('white heads') during grain filling.
- Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens - BPH): Sucking pests that congregate at the base of rice hills, draining plant sap and causing circular scorched patches termed 'hopper burn'.
- Rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis): Caterpillars roll leaf margins together longitudinally, feeding on green chlorophyll inside.
- Gundhi bug (Leptocorisa acuta): Nymphs and adults suck milky sap from developing grains, leaving discolored, chaffy empty grains.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies
IPM minimizes chemical intervention by leveraging biological and cultural controls.
Core IPM practices:
- Pheromone and light traps: Install sex pheromone traps (8 to 10 traps/ha) for monitoring stem borer moth emergence.
- Alley formation: Create 30 cm walkways after every 2 to 3 metres of planting to facilitate sunlight entry and air circulation, suppressing BPH populations.
- Water management: Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) drains water from fields for 2-3 days to break planthopper egg-laying cycles.
- Biocontrol agents: Conserve natural field predators such as mirid bugs, spiders, and release egg parasitoids like Trichogramma japonicum.
Judicious pesticide application and CIBRC guidelines
Apply insecticides strictly when insect populations cross Economic Threshold Levels (ETL). Avoid broad-spectrum synthetic pyrethroids in paddy fields, as they eliminate natural mirid bug predators and induce secondary BPH resurgence. Always adhere to CIBRC-registered label instructions via ppqs.gov.in.
Official source
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ICAR - National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What causes 'white heads' in paddy fields?
White heads are caused by yellow stem borer larvae tunneling inside the stem base, severing vascular supply to emerging panicles.
What is 'hopper burn' in rice?
Hopper burn refers to rapid drying and browning of rice patches caused by heavy infestations of sap-sucking brown planthoppers (BPH).
Why is alternate wetting and drying (AWD) recommended for BPH management?
Intermittent field drying lowers localized humidity at the hill base, creating unfavorable microclimates that suppress planthopper multiplication.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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