Insects in rice

Root cutters

 

Root cutters are insects that partially or totally develop inside the soil. Some can be found only in inland valleys, while others live only in the upland areas.

 

Rice mole cricket (Gryllotalpa africana)

These belong to the locust/grasshopper family. They mostly live in the upland areas, but can live in all kinds of ecosystems. They mostly damage field borders.

 

Termites

These can be found both in inland valleys and in the upland areas, especially when water is lacking, which explains why flooding the fields is the easiest way to control them. They feed on roots and underground elements of the plant, leading to the yellowing and drying of the leaves. The most widespread species found in rice fields are Microtermes, Macrotermes and Trinervitermes spp.

 

Water weevils (Afroryzophilus djibai)

This insect lives exclusively in the muddy waters of inland valleys. The harmful stage is the larva which feeds exclusively on rice roots.

 

Extract from PLAR-IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009)