INSECT PEST OF RICE

YELLOW STEM BORER (Scirpophaga incertulas)

FAMILY: CRAMBIDAE/PYRALIDAE

ORDER: LEPIDOPTERA

Identification of insect pest:

Egg: are creamy white, flattened, oval and scale like and laid in mass and covered with buff
coloured hairs

Larva: pale yellow with dark brown head

Pupa: White silken cocoon are found inside the stem

Adult:

Female moth: bright yellowish brown fore wings with a black spot possess a tuft of yellow
hairs, The female is straw coloured with a conspicuous single black spot at center towards
lower angle of each of the fore wings and hind wings are pale straw coloured

The tip of the abdomen of female is covered with tufts of yellowish silken hairs forming a
circle around a ventral opening.

Male moth: Smaller with pale yellow forewings without black spot

Life cycle:

Eggs are laid on upper leaf surface in masses of 15-80 and are covered with buff-coloured
hairs. The number of eggs laid by a single female moth is upto 150.

Eggs hatch in about 5-10 days. The instar larvae get dispersed with the help of silken threads
and wind. Then they bore into the rice stem. Generally only one larva enters a plant. The
larvae feed on the internal tissues of the stem and undergo 5-6 moults.

A fully grown larva is formed in about 20- 40 days depending upon the climatic conditions.
A developed larva measures about 20 mm in length and is white or yellowish-white in colour.
Larva makes an exit hole and pupates within the larval tunnel, usually at the base of the plant.
The cocoon is silky white in appearance. It remains in pupal stage for 6-12 days (may
prolong upto a month in certain season).

Symptom of damage:

 Presence of brown coloured egg mass near leaf tip

 Caterpillar bore into central shoot of paddy seedling and tiller, causes drying of the
central shoot known as “dead heart”. Deadhearts or dead tillers can be easily pulled
from the base during the vegetative stages
  Whiteheads during reproductive stage where the emerging panicles are whitish and
unfilled or empty

IPM

CULTURAL METHOD

 Set up bird perches (40 to 50/ha) of Insectivorous Birds at vegetative phase of

crop.
 Clipping the tips of seedlings before transplanting greatly reduces the carryover of
eggs from the seedbed to the transplanted fields
 Community-wide destruction of diapausing larvae (in stubble) through tillage after
harvest, followed by flooding, reduces stem borer populations resulting in low
incidence in the next crop.
 Use Resistant Varieties - ADT 47 (Aduthurai), Ratna, Sasyasree,
 Clip the seedling tips before transplanting to eliminate egg masses and collect and
destroy the egg masses in main field

MECHANICAL PRACTICES

 Collection of egg masses and larvae of pest to be placed in bamboo cages for
conservation of biocontrol agents.
 Removal and destruction (burn) of diseased/pest infested plant parts.
 Use of coir rope in rice crop for dislodging case worm, cut worm and swarming
caterpillar and leaf folder larvae etc. on to kerosinized water

CHEMICAL

Spray any one of the following insecticides

CartapHydrochloride 50 % SP 1 kg/ha, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC 150 ml/ha,

Chlorantraniliprole 0.4% G 10 kg/ha, Fipronil 5% SC 1000-1500 g/ha, Fipronil 80%WG 50-
62.5 kg/ha, Flubendiamide 20% WG 125 g/ha, Flubendiamide 39.35% SC 50 g/ha,
Thiacloprid 21.7% SC 500 g/ha, Thiamethoxam 25% WG 100 g/ha

BIOLOGICAL

Release of egg parasitoids, Trichogramma chilonis @ 2.5 CC/ha and Trichogramma

japonicum @ 2.5 CC/ha at fortnightly intervals so as to reduce the damage of INB TSB,
respectively.

1 cc=18000 eggs (CC= Cubic centimetre)

Pheromone trap fixed @ 25/ha

 RICE LEAFFOLDER (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis)

FAMILY: CRAMBIDAE/PYRALIDAE

HOST RANGE: Rice, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, ragi and other Gramineae.

Egg:

Eggs of leaf folder are transparent, yellowish white, 0.90 mm long and 0.39 mm wide, and
almost flat with a slightly convex surface.

LARVA

Larvae are pale yellowish-green with a brownish prothoracic shield and pupate inside the
rolled leaves.

PUPA

Pupa: Pupa is light brown to bright brown and turns reddish-brown just before adult
emergence.

ADULT

The adult is brownish-yellow or brownish orange with 2 and 1 distinct, dark wavy lines on
the forewing and hindwing, respectively. Both wings have a dark brown to gray band on
their outer margin.

LIFE CYCLE

The eggs hatch 3-4 days after oviposition. Eggs are laid singly or in groups of 3 to 8 along the
midrib of young leaves. A female lays about 135 to 175 eggs.

C. medinalis completes its larval development in 14 to 18 days after passing through five
instars. The caterpillar secretes a series of threads and uses these to connect the two margins
of a leaf blade. The threads contract as they dry and bring the two leaf margins together,
turning the leaf blade into a tubular structure. The full-grown larva is yellowish green with a
dark brown head and is 20-25 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide.

DAMAGING SYMPTOM

Immediately after hatching, neonate larvae move to the unopened leaf at the center of the
plant and feed gregariously by scraping the green matter. Larval feeding by scraping the
green matter staying within the fold results in the development of longitudinal white streaks.
Sometimes 2-3 leaves were stitched together and larvae feed from within this fold.

IPM

CULTURAL

Early planting may help to avoid greater degrees of leaf damage.

Wider spacing (22.5 x 20 cm and 30 x 20 cm) and

Low usage of nitrogenous fertilizers decreases leaf damage. Highly fertilized plots seem to
attract females for oviposition. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid over-fertilization.

BIOCONTROL

Elasmus sp (Larval Parasitoids)

Egg predators (crickets) inhabit surrounding grass habitats and move to the field at night for
predation.

CHEMICAL

Spray cartap hydrochloride 4% granules @ 18750-25000 g/ha or cartap hydrochloride 50%

SP @ 1000 g/ha or monocrotophos 36 % SL @ 625-1250 ml/ha or chlorpyrifos 1.5% DP @
25000 g/ha.

RICE HISPA (Dicladispa armigera)

FAMILY: CHRYSOMELIDAE

HOST RANGE: Rice, maize, Cynodon dactylon and other grasses

SYMPTOM

 Scraping of the upper surface of the leaf blade leaving only the lower epidermis as
white streaks parallel to the midrib
 Irregular translucent white patches that are parallel to the leaf veins caused by
tunneling of larvae through leaf tissue causes
 Withering of damaged leaves
 Whitish and membranous leaves

Eggs

Rice hispa eggs laid by the female beetle are usually inserted beneath the epidermis of the
underside of leaves. Occasionally, the eggs are also laid on the top side of leaves. The eggs
are minute, covered in a dark substance, and laid singly. Each female lays a total of between
18 and 101 eggs in their lifetime, with an average of 55. The incubation period is about four
days

Larvae (Grub)

A fully grown larvae is ~5.5 mm long, dorsoventrally flattened, and a dull pale yellow. The
larval period lasts for 7–12 days, and is followed by pupation

PUPAE

D. armigera pupae are dorsoventrally flattened, brown, and appropriately 4.9mm long. The
pupal stage last for about 4 days.
ADULTS

The adult beetle, known as an imago, emerges and cuts its way out of the larval tunnel and
surrounding leaf. The imago is ~5mm long, and bluish black with a spiny body. Adults have
long, well-developed spines on the prothorax and elytra.

DAMAGING SYMPTOM

The larvae mine into the leaf, feeding on the green tissues and only leaving the two epidermal
layers. The activity of the larvae will often leave an irregular discolored pattern on the leaf.
Larvae will feed and pupate within the leaf, without needing to migrate to a fresh leaf.

IPM

CULTURAL

Clipping and destruction of the top three-fourths of the leaves of highly infested crops with
eggs and grubs at the early vegetative stage can suppress populations. Sustained collection of
adults by sweep net and destruction suppress populations and reduces damage. The removal
of rice ratoons and volunteer rice during the crop-free season affects the rice hispa’s survival
and multiplication of over-wintering populations

Collect and destroy floating beetles after flooding in the rice nursery beds

Remove grasses in and around paddy fields or in fallow fields to prevent population build-up
of rice hispa in the following crop

Adopt proper spacing, irrigation and fertilizer application practices. Avoid application of high
nitrogen containing fertilizers.

Clip infested leaf tips along with eggs and grubs before transplanting. Leaf clipping controls
75-90% of grubs.

Collect adult beetles using a sweeping net in the morning hours

Biological control:

Reduviid bug eats upon the adults.

Fungal pathogens that attack the adults

Chemical control:

ETL: 2 adults or 2 damaged leaves/hill

Spray neem based pesticide e.g. altineem @ 3ml per litre of water or crude neem seed oil.
Application of growth regulators like methoprene and diflubenzuron produces deformity on
larvae and pupae
 GUNDHI BUG (Leptocorisa acuta)

FAMILY: ALYDIDAE

HOST RANGE: rice, grasses

Adults: Leptocorisa acuta adults are long (14-17 mm) and slender (3-4 mm wide). They are a
light yellow-green to yellow-brown color. The head is broad, often similar in length and
width to the pronotum (upper surface of the first plate on the thorax) and the scutellum
(triangular shaped plate on the thorax, posterior to the pronotum).

Adults are usually found in aggregations. Like all true bugs, they have piercing-sucking
mouthparts that puncture the substrate they are feeding on, which can damage plant tissue
and reduce grain yields. When disturbed, adults emit an unpleasant odor

Eggs: Eggs are oval with the tops slightly flattened. Females lay eggs in batches of 10 to 20
in rows on the upper surface of the leaf blade. When they are freshly deposited, eggs are a
cream-yellow color, turning to a reddish-brown after approximately one week.

Nymphs:

There are five wingless nymphal instars with a total nymphal period of 25-30 days. Nymphs
are mostly pale yellow-green and have long antennae. Each nymphal instar looks remarkably
similar to the one before it, except each successive nymph is larger than the last and wing pad
enlargement occurs.

Damage

Rice bugs can be a significant pest of the rice plant, as they feed-on developing (milk stage)
grains: reducing crop quality and sometimes yield. Because attacks occur near to harvest, if
farmers spray insecticides in an attempt to control outbreaks, they risk leaving harmful
pesticide residues on the crop.

Rice bugs feed by inserting their needlelike mouthparts into new leaves, tender stems and
developing grains. Consequently, the plant reacts to repair the tissue and seal the wound.
When injuries accumulate, the plant becomes stressed, which can lead to growth retardation
of the grains and some grain and plant deformation. Excessive feeding can cause yellow spots
on the leaves. This reduces photosynthesis and, in extreme cases, can damage the vascular
system of the plant. Puncture holes also serve as points of entry for several plant pathogens,
such as the fungus that causes sheath rot disease. The most economically important damage
is caused when the adults and nymphs feed on the developing grains. Such damage causes
discoloration of the grains, which reduces market quality.

IPM

ETL: 5 bugs/100 earheads at flowering and 16 bugs/100 earheads from milky stage to grain
maturity
Spray any one of the following, Neem seed kernel extract 5%@25kg/ha, Notchi leaf powder
extract 5%, Ipomoea leaf powder extract 5%, Prosopis leaf powder extract 5%

BROWN PLANT HOPPER (Nilaparvata lugens)

FAMILY: DELPHACIDAE

Eggs:

BPH eggs are usually laid in groups at lower part of the rice plant, especially in sheaths and
also in leaf blades. But the sizes and sites of egg-groups depend upon the growth stage of the
rice plant. When the adult population is high, eggs are found in the upper parts of rice plants.

Nymph:

The nymphal stage is 10 to 15 days via five instars.

The adults and nymphs usually stay on the lower parts of rice plants

Symptoms of damage:

 Nymphs and adults congregate at the base of the plant above the water level
 Affected plant dries up and gives a scorched appearance called “hopper burn”.
 Circular patches of drying and lodging of matured plant
 It is vector of grassy stunt, ragged stunt and wilted stunt diseases
 Ovipositional marks exposing the plant to fungal and bacterial infections
 Vector of rice ragged stunt virus and rice grassy stunt virus

IPM

High dosages of nitrogenous fertilizers close spacing, and high relative humidity increases
planthopper populations. Sensible use of fertilizer by splitting nitrogen applications can also
reduce chances of plant hopper outbreaks. Draining rice fields can be effective in reducing
initial infestation levels. The field should be drained for 3 - 4 days when heavy infestations
occur

Resistant variety: Vijetha, Chaitanay, Krishnaveni

Spray of Imidacloprid 70% WG @ 30-35 g/ha or Imidacloprid 30.5% m/m SC @ 60-75

ml/ha or or buprofezin 25% SC @800 ml/ha.

Gall midge: Orseolia oryzae

FAMILY: CECIDOMYIIDAE

Symptom of damage:

Maggot feeds at the base of the growing shoot

Causing formation of a tube like gall that is similar to “onion leaf” or “Silver-shoot”.
Infested tillers produce no panicles.

The active substance, cecidogen secreted from the saliva of gall midge larva and the larval
feeding on the meristematic tissue of terminal and auxiliary shoot apices in rice plant are
responsible for gall formation (silver-shoot) in rice.

LIFE CYCLE

EGG: Eggs are elongate, red brown, 0.44 mm long and 0.25 mm wide (Fernando, 1972). The
eggs are deposited singly or in a group on various parts of the hosts, at the base of the plant,
on stems, sheathes, ligules of the leaf, undersides of the leaf blade, and occasionally on
standing water

LARVA: Maggot is 1 mm long after hatching with pointed anterior end. It creeps down the
sheath and enters the growing bud. An oval chamber is formed round the site of feeding.

PUPA: At the time of emergence the pupa wriggles up the tube with the help of antennal
horn to the tip of the silver shoot and projects half way out.

ADULT: fly is yellowish brown and mosquito like. The male is ash grey in colour. Adults
feed on dewdrops.

MANAGEMENT:

ETL: 10% silver shoots

Early ploughing, Harvest the crop and plough immediately

Remove the alternate hosts and adjust the time of planting (early)

Optimum recommendation of potash fertilizer

Setup light trap and monitor the adult flies

Spray any one of the following insecticides

Fipronil 5% SC 1000-1500 g/ha

Fipronil 0.3% GR 16670-25000 g/ha

Thiamethoxam 25% WG 100 g/ha

Green leafhopper: Nephotettix virescens

FAMILY: CICADELLIDAE

Symptom of damage:

 Yellowing of leaves from tip to downwards

 Vector for the diseases viz., Rice tungro virus, rice yellow & transitory yellowing
cause direct damage to the rice plant
  Retarded vigorous and stunted growth
 Drying up of plant due to sucking up of the leaf

LIFE CYCLE

EGGS: Greenish transparent eggs are deposited in the midrib of leaf blade or sheath of rice
or green grass. They are laid in batches of 10 to 15 arranged in a single row

NYMPH: The nymphs are soft bodied, yellow white in colour. Gradually the colour changes
to green.

ADULT: Adults are 3-5 mm long, bright green with variable black markings, wedge shaped
with a characteristic diagonal movement. Male insect has a black spot in middle of the
forewings that is absent in females.

MANAGEMENT:

CULTURAL METHODS:

The most effective means of GLH management is to use GLH-resistant and tungro-resistant
varieties like IR 50, IR 54, IR 64, CR 1009, PY 3, Co 46 and white ponni .

Apply neem cake @ 12.5 kg/20 cent nursery as basal dose.

Transplanting older seedlings (>3 weeks) reduces viral disease susceptibility transmitted by
leafhoppers.

Nitrogen should be applied as needed to avoid contributing to population or hindering plant

recovery from plant hopper damage by applying insufficient nitrogen.

BIOLOGICAL METHODS:

The major egg parasitoids are:

• Oligosita yasumatsui (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

• Anagrus spp. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

• Gonatocerus spp. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

The most abundant predator is the green mired bug Cyrtorhinus lividipennis which predate on
both eggs and nymphs.

They are also attacked by damselflies, dragonflies, and spiders. A fungal pathogen infects
both the nymphs and adults of the green leafhopper.