Measures to Control Thrips in paddy Crop

Thrips are tiny, sap-sucking insects that can cause significant yield losses in paddy crops. They feed on the leaves and flowers of the rice plant, damaging the plant tissue and affecting its ability to photosynthesize and produce grain.  Thrips are most damaging when they infest the rice plant during the early stages of growth. The higher the number of thrips, the greater the yield loss. Thrips use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on the sap of the rice plant. This damage can stunt the growth of the plant and reduce grain yield.

• Type of Infestation: Pest
• Common Name: Thrips
• Causal Organism: Stenchaetothrips biformis
• Affected Parts Of the plant: Leaves, Stem

 Identification:

• Size and shape: Thrips are tiny, slender insects, usually less than 1/20 inch long. They have elongated bodies and long, narrow wings with fringes.
• Color: Adult thrips can be various colors, including yellow, brown, or black. Look for small, dark-colored specks moving on the leaves or disturbed when you shake the plant.
• Larvae: Thrips larvae are wingless and smaller than adults, but they also have elongated bodies. They may be yellowish or transparent.

Environmental favorable factors for pests/Diseases:

• Temperature: Thrips have a relatively short life cycle and reproduce quickly in warm temperatures, typically between 25-35°C (77-95°F).
• Humidity: Dry conditions favor thrips development and survival. Paddy fields typically have higher humidity, but periods of drought or low water levels can create pockets of favorable microclimates for thrips.

Symptoms of Pest/Disease:

Silvery streaks or yellowish patches: Look for these markings on the leaves, especially young seedlings. They appear where thrips have pierced the tissue and sucked out sap.

• Terminal rolling and drying: Leaves may curl inward from the edges and dry from the tip downwards, especially in severe infestations.
• Translucent areas: Damaged areas may become translucent due to the loss of chlorophyll caused by thrips feeding.
• Stunted growth: Infested plants may show reduced growth and development compared to healthy ones.
• Unfilled grains: During the later stages, thrips feeding can lead to unfilled or discolored grains in the panicles.

Measures to control Pests/Diseases: