Status of prevailing insect pest fauna associated with transplanted rice in Jharkhand

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important staple food crop of India including the state of Jharkhand. The crop is damaged by several insect pests almost throughout the cropping season in its all the growth stages. The occurrence of the pest species takes place in succession and also in overlapping manner, in varying intensities. Pest spectrum of the crop changes in time and space. Information on the current status of the real pest problem of rice in the state of Jharkhand is lacking in literature. In view of visualizing and exploring information and reckoning the real pest situation in the rice ecosystem in the state, pest survey and surveillance work was conducted periodically throughout the cropping season from 2010–1015 in different regions of Jharkhand. The results revealed that as many as 17 insect pests belonging to 7 orders and 8 families were observed to prevail in the rice agro-ecosystem of the state. Termites and white grub were the root feeders for rice crop in general and in case of upland rice ecologies in particular. Green leaf hoppers, brown plant hopper, white backed plant hopper, thrips and mealy bug behaved as sap suckers. Hispa, grass hoppers, case worm, leaf folders and black hairy caterpillar were the leaf eaters and defoliators. Grub of hispa acted as leaf minor. Larvae of yellow stem borer were found to bore the stem both in vegetative and reproductive stages of the crop. Gall midge was able to form shoot gall from central leaf sheath of the crop plant. Ear bug was able to suck the milk from the developing grains of the crop. Based on the extent and level of crop damage, gall midge, yellow stem borer, rice leaf folder, green leaf hopper, ear bug and caseworm could be categorized as mild to major pest. Hispa could be treated as minor to mild pest. Termite and thrips remained as negligible and minor pest. Black hairy caterpillar, mealy bug, white grub, white backed plant hopper and brown plant hopper, attained the status of negligible pest.