W H A T I T D O E S

T H E F E E D I N G D A M A G E O F W H O R L
M A G G O T S C A U S E S Y E L L O W S P O T S ,
W H I T E O R T R A N S P A R E N T P A T C H E S ,
A N D H P I N O L E S . T H E L A R V A U S E S
I T S D H A R E N E D M O U T H H O O K S T O
R AP S E T H T I S S U E S O F U N O P E N E D
L EV E A O S R T H E G R O W I N G P O I N T S
O F T H E D E V E L O P I N G L E A V E S . T H E
D A M A G E B E C O M E S V I S I B L E W H E N
T H E L E A V E S G R O W O L D . M A T U R E
L A R V A P R E F E R S T O F E E D O N T H E
D E V E L O P I N G L E A V E S O F T H E N E W
D E V E L O P I N G T I L L E R S A T T H E B A S E
O F T H E R I C E P L A N T .

RICE
WHORL
MAGGOT
WHY AND WHERE
IT OCCURS
• Standin g water In paddies during the vegetati ve stage, presenc e of host plants
year-round, and transplanting of young seedlings favor the development of rice
whorl maggot. The rice whorl maggot is semi-aquatic. It is common in
Irrigated fields and feeds on the central whorl leaf of the vegetative stage of the
rice plant. It does not occur in upland rice. It also prefers ponds, streams and
lakes or places with abundant calm water and lush vegetation. The insect does
not prefer direct-seeded fields and seedbeds. The adult is active during the day
and rests on rice leaves near the water. It floats on the water or perches on
floating vegetation. At midday, it is sedentary or it clings on upright
vegetation. It prefers thick vegetation and is attracted to open standing water
around seedbeds. Neonate maggots feed on the unopened central leaves where
larval development is completed in 10-12 days. The full-grown maggots
pupate outside the feeding stalk.
HOW TO
IDENTIFY
• Check the plant for the followin g sympto ms:
wanspaempacheonho hi te or es damaged leaves easily break
from the wind somewhat distorted leaves clear or yellow
spots on inner margins of emerging leaves stunting few
tiller’s Check for the presence of insects: elongate, white eggs
glued on leaves. Transparent to light cream legless young
larvae rasping the tissues of unopened leaves yellow mature
larva feeding on developing leaves of the new developing
tillers at the base of the rice plant
WHY IS IT
I M P O R TA N T
• The rice whorl maggot begins to infest the rice plant at
transplanting. It locates rice fields by reflected sunlight from
the water surface. Using insecticides is not recommended for
the rice whorl maggot control because the rice plant can
compensate for the damage.
HOW TO MANAGE
• There is no cultural control for rice whorl maggot. Small
wasps parasitized the eggs and the maggots. Spiders feed on
the adults. Dolicopodid flies prey on the eggs and ephydrid
flies and during the maximum tillering stage of the crop. The
rice plant can compensate for the damage caused by the rice
whorl maggot. Usually, the symptoms disappear Content
expert: jo Catindig (email: j.catindig@irri.org)
STEM BORER
• Six species of stemborer attack rice. These are the yellow
stemborer, white stemborer, striped stemborer, gold-fringed
stemborer, dark-headed striped stemborer, and the pink
stemborer. Among the stem borers, the pink stem borer is less
Important. It is polyphagous and prefers sugarcane to rice.
What it does Stem borers can destroy rice at any stage of the
plant from seedling to maturity. They feed upon tillers and
causes deadhear ts or drying of the central tiller, during
vegetative stage; and causes whiteheads at reproductive stage.
WHY AND WHERE
IT OCCURS
• The stern borer larvae bore at the base of the plants during the vegetative stage. On
older plants, they bore through the upper nodes and feed toward the base. The yellow
stem borer is a pest of deepwater rice. It is found in aquatic environments where there
is continuous flooding. Second instar larvae enclose themselves in body leaf
wrappings to make tubes and detach themselves from the leaf and falls onto the water
surface. They attach themselves to the tiller and bore into the stem. Striped stem borer
is most abundant in temperate countries and in non-flooded areas. Their final instars
remain dormant in temperate areas during winter. The pink stem borer is found in
upland rice, which is grown near sugarcane or related grasses. The presence of
alternate hosts encourages the pink stem borer to develop, multiply and survive during
winter or dry season. Unlike other species of stem borers, the pink stem borer lay bare
eggs between the leaf sheath and the stem. High nitrogenous field favors population
buildup of the stem borers. Fields planted later favors more damage by the insect
pests that have built up in fields that have been planted earlier. Stubble that remains in
the field can harbor stem borer larvae and or pupae.
HOW TO
IDENTIFY
• Check the field for the following damage symptoms: Deadhearts or dead
tillers that 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. Tiny holes on the stems and tillers Frass or
fecal matters inside the damaged sterns Deadhearts and whiteheads
symptoms may sometimes be cornfused with damages caused by rats,
neck blast, and black bug diseases. To confirm stem borer damage,
visually inspect rice crop. For deadhearts in the vegetative stages and
whiteheads in reproductive stages. Stems can be pulled and dissected for
larvae and pupae for confirmation of stem borer damage.
WHY IS IT
I M P O R TA N T
• Excessive boring through the sheath can destroy the crop. Its
damage can reduce the number of reproductive tillers. At late
infection, plants develop whiteheads. Yellow stemborer
damage can lead to about 20% yield loss in early planted rice
crops, and 80% in late- planted crops. White stemborer is an
important pest in rainfed wetland rice. It can cause outbreaks
and destroy rice fields. Striped stemborer is one of the most
important Insect pests in Asia. Its damage can be as high as
100% when severe. Gold-fringed stemborer can cause yield
loss of about 30%.
HOW TO MANAGE
• Use resistant varieties At seedbed and transplanting, handpick and destroy egg masses
Raise level of irrigation water periodically to submerge the eggs deposited on the
lower parts of the plant Before transplanting, cut the leaf-top to reduce carry- over of
eggs from the seedbed to the field Ensure proper timing of planting and synchronous
planting, harvest crops at ground level to remove the larvae in stubble, remove stubble
and volunteer rice, plow and flood the field Encourage biological control agents:
braconid, eulophid, mymarid, scelionid, chalcid, pteromalid and trichogrammatid
wasps, ants, lady beetles, staphylinid beetles, gryllid, green meadow grasshopper, and
mirid, phorid and platystomatid flies, bethylid, braconid, elasmid, eulophid,
eurytomid and ichneumonid wasps, carabid and lady bird beetles, chloropid fly, gerrid
and pentatomid bugs, ants, and mites, earwigs, bird, asilid fly, vespid wasp,
dragonflies, damselflies, and spiders Bacteria and fungi also infect the larvae:
mermithid nematode, chalcid, elasmid and eulophid Apply nitrogen fertilizer in split
following the recommended rate and time of application.
RICE BUG
• The most common species of rice bug are Leptocorisa
oratorius F. and Leptocorisa acuta Thunberg. What it does
Rice bugs damage rice by sucking out the content s of
developi ng grains from pre- flowerin g spikelet s to soft
dough stage, therefore causing unfilled or empty grains and
discoloration. Immature and adult rice bugs both feed on rice
grains.
WHY AND WHERE
IT OCCURS
• High rice bug populations are brought about by factors such as nearby woodlands,
extensive weedy areas near rice fields, wild grasses near canals, and staggered rice
planting. The insect also becomes active when the monsoonal rains begin. Warm
weather, overcast skies, and frequent drizzles favor its population buildup. The
population of the rice bug increases at the end of the rainy season. Rice bugs are
found in all rice environments. They are more common in rainfed and upland rice and
prefer the flowering to milky stages of the rice crop. Adults are active during the late
afternoon and early morning. Under bright sunlight, they hide in grassy areas. They
are less active during the dry season. In cooler areas, the adults undergo a prolonged
development in grasses. They feed on wild hosts for one to two generations before
migrating into the rice fields at the flowering stages. The nymphs are found on the
rice plant where they blend with the follage. There, they are often left unnoticed.
When disturbed, the nymphs drop to the lower part of the plants and the adults fly
within a short distance.
HOW TO
IDENTIFY
• Check the plant for feeding damage, such as small or
shriveled grains, deformed or spotty grains, empty grains, and
erect panicles. The symptoms can be confused with the
damage caused by nutrient deficiency or flower thrips. To
confirm rice bug Infestation, check for presence of insect:
oval, shiny, and reddish brown eggs along midrib of leaf
slender and brown-green nymphs and aduits feeding on
endosperm of rice grains offensive smell.
WHY IS IT
I M P O R TA N T
• Both the adults and nymphs feed on grains at the milking
stage. They can be serious pests of rice and sometimes reduce
yield by as much as 30%.
HOW TO MANAGE
• Both the adults and nymphs feed on grains at the milking stage. They can be serious pests of rice and
sometimes reduce yield by as much as 30%. How to manage Remove weeds from fields and
surrounding areas to prevent the multiplication of rice bugs during fallow periods. Level fields with
even applications of fertilizer and water encourage rice to grow and develop is at the same rate.
Planting fields, within a village, at the same time (synchronous planting) also helps reduce rice bug
problems. Capturing rice bugs, in the early morning or late afternoon, by net can be effective at low
rice bug densities, though labor intensive. Encourage biological control agents: Some wasps,
grasshoppers and spiders attack rice bugs or rice bug eggs. Indiscriminate insecticide use disrupts
biological control, resulting in pest resurgence. For chemical control Before using a pesticide contact
a crop protection specialist for suggestions, guidance, and warnings specific to your situation. Begin
scouting the field at pre-flowering and continue daily until the hard dough stage. Count rice bugs in
the early morning or late afternoon from 20 hills while walking diagonally across a transplanted
field. Adults often fly out of the way before you reach the rice plant, so counts may only reveal
immature forms. Direct control may be required if there are more than 10 rice bugs/20 hills. The
choice of insecticide depends on many factors such as the application equipment available, cost of
the insecticide, experience of the applicator, or presence of fish. The benefits of using an insecticide
must be weighed against the risks to health and the environment.