Pest incidence on five aromatic rice varieties was recorded during wet seasons of 2001 – 2006. Maximum numbers of pests were observed during 2001 followed by 2005 and 2006. Varietal reaction did not play a prominent role for the high or low pest incidences. Analysis of weather parameters indicated that they play a major role in creating the variation in pest prevalence. Temperature and relative humidity remaining conducive during the cropping season in different years, wide variation was recorded in the amount of rainfall and its distribution in different months along with the variation in sunshine hour. High rainfall during June-July, with low sunshine hours in August, followed by gradual decrease of rainfall with increase in sunshine hours towards September and October resulted in more pest incidences than initial dry spell during June, July with high sunshine hours or less amount of total rainfall
aromatic rice, insect pests, diseases, weather factors
