Description

The rice plant is an ideal host for many insect species. All of the plant parts are vulnerable to insect-feeding from the time of sowing till harvest. There are over 800 insect species damaging rice in one way or another, although the majority of them do very little damage. In tropical Asia only about 20 species are of major importance. In Africa, 15 species of insects are considered major pests of rice and in the Americas about 20 species are considered major pests.

To develop effective pest management strategies, it is essential to properly identify and to understand the biology and ecology of insect pests and the arthropods that help regulate their populations. This book effectively utilizes the unique knowledge and expertise of leading rice entomologists from Africa, Asia and the Americas to provide the first global coverage of rice insect pests. The discussion of each pest includes geographical distribution, plant hosts other than rice, description and biology, plant damage and ecology.

Key features

• Covers almost 100 species of the most important insect pests affecting rice cultivation
• Brings together the key research on each pest, including description and biology and effects on rice plants
• Written by a team of leading entomologists with experience of rice pests in Asia, Africa, the United States and Latin America
• Includes over 150 photographs and images

Table of contents

The insects discussed are categorised based on feeding types:

1. Root and stem feeders
2. Stem borers
3. Rice gall midges
4. Leafhoppers and planthoppers
5. Foilage feeders
6. Panicle feeders

The book concludes with a discussion of integrated management of insect pests