1Rice Research Station, Government of West Bengal, Department of Agriculture, Chinsurah, Hooghly-712 102, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding Author: Sitesh Chatterjee, Rice Research Station, Government of West Bengal, Department of Agriculture, Chinsurah, Hooghly-712 102, West Bengal, India, Email: entomologist.rrs@gmail.com
Online published on 27 February, 2026.
Rice is one of the major staple foods in India. The population of our country is being increased day-by-day but the agricultural land is fixed and is also being decreased due to increase of civilization, homestead, mill factory etc. Rice production is also hampered by biotic stresses, among them insect-pests play a major role to reduce the productivity of rice. Among the rice insect-pests, rice yellow stem borer (YSB) (Scirpophaga incertulas), rice leaf folder (RLF) (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis), brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens) and white backed plant hopper (WBPH) (Sogatella furcifera) are the most dominant as well as most destructive insect-pests occurring throughout the country causing a major yield loss.
The cyclonic storm with high wind speed and heavy rainfall in kharif season are also serious obstacles to rice production in our country. Just after cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ in West Bengal, this study was conducted by roving survey in Singur blocks of Hooghly district, West Bengal.
It was recorded during the field survey that slight attack of yellow stem borer (white ear head) and rice leaf folder and severe attack of brown plant hopper and white backed plant hopper insect-pests with ‘Hopper burn’ symptoms caused damage to rice crop. The rice crop variety ‘Jamuna’ was mostly affected by hopper complex which may be a susceptible variety to the rice hoppers. The YSB and RLF infestation were very low due to occurrence of ‘Dana’.
BPH, Cyclonic storm, ‘Dana’, Hopper burn, Rice insects, Roving survey, WBPH
