Rice-feeding Insects of Tropical Asia

Book excerpt: The field guide documents the community of insects that feed on rice in the tropical zone of Asia and complements the IRRI publication "Helpful insects, spiders, and pathogens: friends of the rice farmers." It covers 78 phytophagous species in 64 genera, 27 families, and 8 orders. The phytophage guild represents five groups-general defoliators, (27 species), plant suchers (25 species), early vegetative pests (11 species), soil pests (9 species), and stem borers (6 species). Stem borers and plant suckers comprise the major rice pests. A brief description of each insect's life stage and demage it does to the rice plant is presented for a quick and reliable identification.