Paddy thrips: Stenchaetothrips biformis (Bagnall) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)

Kannada name: Thrips

• Abundant in dry periods from July to September and January to March.
• In temperate areas, the insects migrate and hibernate on graminaceous weeds during the winter season.

Period of occurrence: Seedling stage or 2 weeks after early sowing.

Alternate hosts: Rice thrips prefers rice and maize. It also feeds on Phalaris sp. and Imperata sp.

Damaging stage of the insect: Nymph and adult

Pest Description:

Eggs: singly within the leaf tissues.

Nymphs: Transparent and towards the second molting, they turn to pale yellow

Pupa: Long wing pads that reach two-thirds the length of the abdomen.

Adult: Slender body. It is dark brown and 1-2 mm long. It exists in two forms, winged or wingless. The winged form has two pairs of elongated narrow wings that are fringed with long hairs.

 Damage symptoms

• Leaves look like burnt appearance

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                   Damaged leaves                                           Damaged field