S N.

Name of the pest

Nature of damage

Control measure

1.

Tissue-borers, Tryporyza incertulas

• Caterpillars bore into stems and pupate within;
• the central shoot withers and produces a dead heat;
• affected plants turn yellow and there is no grain formation;
• ear-heads appear white and chaffy; active throughout the year, except between April and May and between October and November.

• Plough the land immediately after harvest and destroy stubble; in small areas or nurseries,
• collect egg masses;
• give three fortnightly sprayings with 0.04% Diazinon, Phosphamidon, Fenitrothion, Parathion, Dimethoate, Endosulfan or two applications of Phorate (10%), Lindane (2%) or Endosulfan (4%) granules, 2 and 6 weeks after transplanting.

2.

Gundhi bugs: Leptocorisa varicornis

• Nymphs and adults suck the milky sap of tender grains;
• affected earheads stand erect like normal ones, but without any grain formation;
• often the crop is completely dectroyed;
• early varieties, if transplanted late, become more susceptible;
• active during May to November.

• Adopt clean cultivation;
• remove weeds and grasses;
• dust 10% BHC just before flowering.

3.

Paddy gall fly, Pachydiplosis oryzae

Maggots attack the base of the growing point and produce long, tubular silvery galls (silver shoots); plant growth is adversely affected; active during May to September-November.

Remove grasses and weeds from bunds around the paddy fields; sow resistant varieties; spray 0.03% Phosphamidon or Dimethoate, 4 times during the vegetative phase of the crop

4.

Rice hispa; Dicladispa armigera

• Small blue-black beetles, covered with spines;
• the grubs make long winding tunnels into leaves,
• whereas adults scrape the chlorophyl,
• affected leaves turn whitish and membranous and ultimately dry up

• Adopt clean cultivation;
• clip off leaf tips at the time of transplanting;
• dust 5% BHC

5.

Paddy caseworm, Nymphula depunctalis

• A small white moth, with yellow and dark specks on the wings;
• greenish caterpillars out the leaves and form tubular cases around them;
• several tubes may be seen floating on water or hanging from the plants;
• the larvae feed on green tissues.

• Dust 10%BHC or spray 0.04% Endosulfan or 0.2% Carbaryl

6.

Swarming caterpillar, Spodoptera mauritia

• Sporadic,
• caterpillars appear in big swarms, causing heavy losses, specially when cold weather is suddenly followed by a spell of warmth or drought (30-40 days) is followed by heavy rains;
• normally appear in July-August.

• Flood paddy fields or surround them with trenches having steep sides;
• dust 10% BHC or spray 0.03% Diehlorvos or Endosulfan.

7.

Armyworms; Mythimna unipuncta

• Caterpillars march from field to field and voraciously feed on foliage;
• appear after heavy rains or early floods

• Trap caterpillars in grass heaps or plough up infested fields;
• dust 10% BHC or spray 0.05% Endosulfan; early-stage caterpillars are easy to control

8.

Rice grasshoppers: Hieroglyhus banian

• Appear immediately after rains; nymphs and adults devour leaves and tender shoots and also newly-formed ear-heads;
• active from July to October -November

• Plough deep after harvest and scrape bunds;
• dust with 5-10% BHC

9.

Paddy jassids: Nephotettix apicalis

• Adults small, green, with black spots on forewings;
• nymphs and adults suck plant sap; affected plants turn yellow and growth is adversely affected.

• Spray 0.04% Phosphamidon, Dimethoate, Monocrotophos or Diazinon or apply as preventive measure Phorate (10%) Lindane (2%) or Disulfoton (5%) granules, 3 and 6 weeks after transplanting.

10.

Paddy mealy bug,

Ripersia oryzae

• Colonies of reddish-white soft insects infest succulent paddy stems,
• hidden by outer leaf-sheaths,
• suck cell sap;
• growth gets stunted;
• affects ear-head formation.

• Pull out and destroy the infested plants in the initial stage;
• spray 0.04% Phosphamidon, Dimethoate, Diazinon or Monocrotophos

11.

Rice-root aphid, Tetraneura hirsuta

• Colonies of nymphs and adults suck sap from roots just below soil surface,
• affected plants become pale and wither

• When serious, apply 10% of Phorate or 5% Disulfoton granules near the base of the plants

12.

Paddy leaf-roller, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis

• Sporadic pest;
• caterpillars roll the leaf tips and feed inside

• Clip and destroy the rolled tips;
• dust 10% BHC

13.

Paddy skippers, Pelopides mathias

• Adult, a dark-brown butterfly; caterpillar smooth and green, feeds on leaves

• Dust 10% BHC or 4% Carbaryl or spray 0.05% Endosulfan

14.

Paddy root weevil Echinocnemus oryzae

• Small grey weevil, grubs attack paddy roots and affect the growth of plants

• In known endemic areas, mix 5% Aldrin or Chlordane with the soil before sowing.