Pictorial Guide for the Identification of Rice Diseases and Pests Version 1 .0 2026 Dear Rice Farmers and Extension Workers,   Your role in sustaining food security in the Philippines will always be crucial, considering that rice is the country’s primary source of food. We recognize that as you work hard to improve productivity and remain competitive, you also face the constant challenge of managing various diseases and pests to prevent losses in yield and income. Accurate identification of these constraints is essential to help you adopt effective and sustainable management.  We are therefore pleased to present to you this pictorial guide as part of the commitment of our project, titled “Development of an Innovation System for Climate-Smart Pest Management (CSPM)”, to give you our support. The project is jointly implemented by the Bureau of Plant Industry, the International Rice Research Institute, and the Philippine Rice Research Institute and funded by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR).   This pictorial guide was designed to be a user-friendly visual reference specifically for you. Each disease or pest is presented with the best possible photograph and a simple description. For insect pests, additional photos showing the damage, as usually observed in the field, are also included to ensure accurate identification. These pictures will be more useful because written descriptions may still be too technical or difficult to understand. This guide will hopefully allow you to directly compare what you see in the field with what is shown on its pages.    Diseases and pests in this guide are grouped into three categories: Diseases, Insect Pests, and Nematodes. For each category, diseases and pests are arranged according to the part of the plant they usually affect, which are indicated by the colored tags on the left side of each page. The materials used in this guide have been carefully selected to ensure durability under field conditions. The size and type of binding were designed to be convenient for field use.     Future editions will feature additional diseases and pests and will incorporate your valuable feedback on this issue, so we can continue to provide you with an even more effective reference during your field visits.    We invite you to join our team in expressing our sincere gratitude to the DA- BAR for funding the publication of this pictorial guide.    With our continued support and sincere appreciation,  The Implementing Agencies of CSPM Preface 2 3 Version disclaimer This is the first version of the guide. It will be improved based on the comments and suggestions of project partners, farmers, and extension workers. Acknowledgment This pictorial guide was developed with funding support from the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines, through the project titled Development of an Innovation System for Climate Smart Pest Management in Rice and the valuable contributions of project partners from the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Philippine Rice Research Institute. The authors acknowledge the Sustainable Farming Program of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research for its institutional and technical support. INDEX 4 Diseases Bacterial leaf blight Bacterial leaf streak Bakanae Brown spot Collar blast False smut Grassy stunt Internode blast Leaf blast Leaf scald Narrow brown spot Neck blast Node blast Rice orange leaf disease Ragged stunt Red stripe Sheath blight Sheath rot Tungro Yellowing syndrome 6 7 20 8 9 19 21 14 10 11 12 15 16 22 23 13 17 18 24 25 INDEX 5 Insect Pests Black bug Brown planthopper Ear-cutting caterpillar or armyworm Green hairy caterpillar Green leafhopper Green-horned caterpillar Leaffolder Mole cricket Pink stemborer Rice bug Short-horned grasshopper Small brown planthopper Striped stemborer White leafhopper White stemborer Whitebacked planthopper Whorl maggot Yellow stemborer Zigzag leafhopper Root-knot nematode 39 40 38 27 41 26 28 32 33 37 29 42 34 30 36 43 31 35 44 45 Nematode Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzaeBacterial leaf blight (BLB) a b c d What It Looks Like: Lesions on the leaves are usually yellow-orange stripes or streaks that may start from the tip, one side or both sides of a leaf (a, b). These lesions usually have wavy margins. Under favorable conditions, lesions expand which cause wilting of the leaves (c). Sign of the Disease: Yellow or whitish bacterial ooze may be observed on the underside of the leaves during early mornings or prolonged periods of dew. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Favorable Conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Potassium deficiency Common during the wet season Common in well irrigated fields Strong wind High humidity Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening Le av es 6 a b c d Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola What It Looks Like: New lesions are short, linear, thin, and water-soaked (a). Developing lesions turn yellow- orange to light brown and shorter and thinner than lesions of bacterial blight (b). Mature lesions are brown and could lead to wilting of the leaves (c). Lesions are unique in that they are translucent when observed against the light (d). Signs of the Disease: Yellow or whitish bacterial ooze may be observed on the underside of the leaves during early mornings or prolonged periods of dew. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) Favorable Conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Potassium deficiency Common in well irrigated fields Strong wind High humidity R ep ro d u ct iv e Le av es Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 7 Brown spot Bipolaris oryzae What It Looks Like: New lesions on the leaves are brown and as small as the tip of a pin (a). Older lesions are circular to oval with light brown to gray center and reddish brown margins (a, b). The margin of a lesion is surrounded by a lighter- colored border called halo. Mature lesions may have yellow to yellow- brown streaks (b). Favorable Conditions: Nutrient-deficient soil Insufficient water supply Use of infected seeds Common in direct-seeded rice Ecosystem: Lowland (rainfed and irrigated) Upland R ep ro d u ct iv e Le av es S te m s G ra in s Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening a b 8 V eg et at iv e Pyricularia oryzae V eg et at iv e Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Collar blast a What It Looks Like: Lesions on the collar (the part of the plant that connects the stem and the leaves) are initially reddish brown (a) and later turn dark to light brown (a,b). The affected leaf may wilt and detach from the stem, even if the remaining part remains healthy (b). b Favorable Conditions: Cool to moderate temperature High amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense plant growth Inadequate water supply S te m s 9 V eg et at iv e Pyricularia oryzaeLeaf blast What It Looks Like: A newly formed lesions is light brown and as small as a tip of a pin. Older lesions are eye-shaped or elliptical, usually with a brown border and a gray center (a, b). On severely infected leaves, lesions merge causing extensive wilting or burned appearance (c). V eg et at iv e Favorable Conditions: Cool to moderate temperature High amount of nitrogen fertilizer Potassium deficiency Inadequate water supply Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland a b c Close plant spacing Common during the wet season High humidity Le av es Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive 10 V eg et at iv e a b c Microdochium albescens What It Looks Like: Lesions may start from the edges or tip of the leaf. Lesions that start from the edges usually have a ring-like pattern of alternating light and dark brown discoloration (a). In contrast, lesions that start at the tip have a v-shaped pattern of light and dark brown areas (b). As these lesions mature, the pattern fades and the affected areas wilt, causing the leaf to have a burned or scalded appearance (b, c). Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Favorable Conditions: High humidity Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense plant growth Potassium deficiency Leaf scald Le av es Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening 11 a Narrow brown spot b c Le av es S te m s Sphaerulina oryzina What It Looks Like: Lesions on the leaves are short, linear, brown to reddish-brown (a, b). Lesions on the stem are linear, usually thicker than those found on the leaves, and may merge causing brown discoloration (b, c). Lesions typically begin to appear at the start of the reproductive phase. In highly susceptible varieties, lesions could be wider, with gray center and brown margin (a). On these varieties, lesions may start appearing during the late vegetative stage. Favorable Conditions: Inadequate amount of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers High humidity Poor irrigation and drought Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 12 Gonatophragmium sp. What It Looks Like: Initial lesions are water-soaked, as small as the tip of a pin, and often greenish yellow to yellow (a). Typical lesions are yellow orange and oval with streaks that develops towards the leaf tips, and have no defined border (b). Only one lesion is usually found on a leaf, although multiple lesions may occur during highly favorable conditions. Although more common on the leaves, similar lesions may also be found on the stem (c). Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) V eg et at iv e a b c Red stripe Favorable Conditions: High humidity Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Potassium deficiency Common during the wet season Strong wind Le av es S te m s Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 13 V eg et at iv e Pyricularia oryzaeInternode blast What It Looks Like: The lesions on the internode (area of the stem between nodes) are initially brown, water-soaked spots that later become elongated and brownish gray, and sometimes eye-shaped similar to those found on the leaves (a). The stem may weaken and eventually break when lesions expand (b). Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Favorable Conditions: Cool to moderate temperature Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Close plant spacing Inadequate water supply Common during the wet season a b Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening S te m s 14 a b c Neck blast V eg et at iv e V eg et at iv e S te m s G ra in s Pyricularia oryzae What It Looks Like: Lesions on the neck are grayish to dark brown which expand under favorable conditions (a, b). The panicles break at the infected area (c). When the neck is infected before the milk stage, grains remain unfilled, resulting in whitehead similar to those caused by stemborers. When the neck is infected after milk stage, grains are partially filled. Favorable Conditions: Cool to moderate temperature High amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Inadequate water supply Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening 15 V eg et at iv e V eg et at iv e Node blast a b S te m s Pyricularia oryzae What It Looks Like: A node is the jointed, solid structure on the stem. Lesions on the node are initially dark brown and later become black (a). Mycelia (white, cotton-like structures) may be found on the node (a). The stem breaks at the infected node (b). The disease can spread to the internode (area of the stem between nodes) under favorable conditions. Severe infection causes lodging. Favorable Conditions: Cool to moderate temperature High amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Inadequate water supply Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland 16 V eg et at iv e a c d Sheath blight Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland e b S te m s Le av es Rhizoctonia solani What It Looks Like: Lesions on the stem are initially oval or elliptical with grayish center and dark margins (a, b). As the disease develops, lesions enlarge and merge (b). These lesions usually start at the base of the tiller and spread towards the upper part of the plant. A typical lesion on the leaf is initially water soaked and light green with irregular shape. Mature lesions are light gray or light brown with brown borders (d). Lesions on leaves also enlarge and merge during favorable conditions (d). Cotton-like structures called mycelia and brown irregularly shaped structures called sclerotia are sometimes observed on the stem (c). Signs of the disease Mycelia Sclerotia Favorable Conditions: High humidity Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 17 b c a d Sheath rot G ra in s S te m s Sarocladium oryzae What It Looks Like: Lesions are found below the flag leaf or the panicle (a, b) Lesions are initially oblong (a, b). Infected panicles are rotten, with discolored grains and do not fully exsert (c, d). Panicles do not exsert when disease is severe. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Favorable Conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Humid and warm conditions Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening 18 Ustilaginoidea virens What It Looks Like: Some filled or unfilled grains are replaced by velvety or powdery spore masses, commonly known as smut or spore balls. Newly developed or immature spores are orange or yellow (a, b). Mature spores are greenish black with immature spores sometimes observed in the inner layer (b). These spore balls could be twice as large as a normal rice grain. The disease does not usually affect all the panicles in a plant. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) a b c False smut Favorable Conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Potassium deficiency Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Use of infected seeds Strong wind High humidity R ep ro d u ct iv e G ra in s Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening 19 What It Looks Like: Tillers are taller and thinner than healthy plants, and the leaves are pale or yellowish (a, b). Not all tillers in a plant are diseased. Diseased leaves can be observed in the field even from a distance (a). Diseased leaves become droopy (b) and eventually wilt. Plants have empty, deformed or partially exserted panicle (c). Mycelia are found on the base of diseased tillers (d). a b Fusarium fujikoroi Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Favorable Conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Use of infected seeds Close plant spacing Strong wind High humidity Use of infected seeds dc Bakanae Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening W h o le P la n t G ra in s 20 V eg et at iv e Grassy stunt Signs of the Disease: Brown planthoppers Rice grassy stunt virus Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) What It Looks Like: Leaves are thin, erect, short and exhibit yellow-green to yellow discoloration. Diseased plants exhibit excessive tillering. These symptoms give the plant a grass-like appearance. Diseased plants are stunted and may fail to flower, or flowering may be delayed. Panicles may not exert, or may exsert but with several unfilled grains. Favorable conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Dense crop growth Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting No defined fallow period High humidity W h o le P la n t Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Photo credit: R. Cabunagan, IRRI Photo credit: R. Cabunagan, IRRI 21 V eg et at iv e Candidatus disease asteris What It Looks Like: Symptoms of rice orange leaf disease include orange discoloration of leaves starting from the tip that develops towards the base (a). Leaves roll inward and wilt earlier than those of healthy plants (a). Diseased plants are stunted and have reduced tillers (b). Laboratory tests are needed to confirm rice orange leaf disease because it resembles other rice viral diseases. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Signs of the Disease: Zigzag-striped leafhoppers or green leafhoppers Favorable conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Dense crop growth Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting No defined fallow period High humidity Rice orange leaf disease a b W h o le P la n t Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive 22 V eg et at iv e Rice ragged stunt virusRagged stunt What It Looks Like: Leaves have ragged or serrated edges, and may be twisted (a,b). The leaves generally appear darker green than those of healthy plants, but some of the affected leaves are yellow to yellow-brown (a). The disease also prevents the leaf from fully developing (b). Infected plants are stunted. Flowering is delayed. Panicles may not exsert or may exsert but with several unfilled grains. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Signs of the Disease: Brown planthoppers Photo credit: Dr. Bui Xuan Phong, Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Photo credit: Dr. Bui Xuan Phong, Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Favorable conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Dense crop growth Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer No defined fallow period High humidity W h o le P la n t Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive a b 23 V eg et at iv e Tungro Rice tungro baciliform virus Rice tungro spherical virus What It Looks Like: Typical symptoms are yellow to orange leaf discoloration which begins from the tip and extends to the base of the leaf (a). Discoloration usually occurs on the second and third leaf. Diseased plants are stunted and have reduced tillers (b). Flowering may be delayed. Panicles may not exsert or may exsert but with several unfilled grains. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm tungro because it resembles other rice viral diseases. Signs of the disease: Green leafhoppers Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Favorable conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Dense crop growth Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting No defined fallow period High humidity W h o le P la n t Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive a b 24 Yellowing syndrome b c d a e Rice grassy stunt virus and Rice ragged stunt virus V g t ti What It Looks Like: Symptoms are reported to vary according to the timing and sequence of infection of the two viruses that cause the disease. Typical symptoms are yellow to yellow orange leaf discoloration (a), bronzing of the leaves (b, c), excessive tillering (c), and stunting (d, e). Some plants have yellow leaf discoloration and bronzing with stunting but normal tillering. Other plants may exhibit yellowing, along with serrated and twisted leaves, without excessive tillering. Laboratory tests are needed to confirm yellowing syndrome because it resembles other rice viral diseases. Photo credit: Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) - Calabarzon, Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippines Signs of the disease: Brown planthoppers Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Photo credit: RCPC - Calabarzon, DA, Philippines Photo credit: RCPC - Calabarzon, DA, Philippines Favorable conditions: Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Inadequate amount of potassium fertilizer Dense crop growth Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting No defined fallow period High humidity W h o le P la n t Affected Development Phase: Reproductive Ripening 25 What It Looks Like: The adult (a) is light brown with the upper part of the wings pale brown and the wing tips dark brown. The larva (b) is green with thread-like hairs on its body. The fully grown larva has white bands along its body and is 16 mm long. Rivula atimeta Favorable Conditions: Warm and humid environment Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Presence of alternate hosts, such as grasses Damage: Young larvae scrape leaf tissues. Older larvae consume large areas at the edge of the leaves to form notches. At high infestation, seedlings may die, especially if it occurs simultaneously with other caterpillars. Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: During the day, it hides under vegetation with the head pointed down. R ip en in g Green hairy caterpillar Le av es a b Affected development phase: Vegetative 26 What It Looks Like: The adult (a) is a large dark brown butterfly with a grayish brown head and abdomen. It has a body length of 2.2 cm. It has prominent eye-like spots on its large wings which are folded when at rest. The larva (b) is yellow green, and its body is covered with small hairs. The green head is flat with a pair of brown horns. Melanitis leda ismene Favorable Conditions: Environments with distinct dry and wet seasons Heavy rains after a long dry period Presence of alternate hosts Damage: Cuts or rugged edges on leaves due to larval feeding on leaf margins and tips Ecosystem: All rice environments but more prevalent in rainfed conditions Where to Find It: It can be found in the underside of rice leaves and in grassy areas Green-horned caterpillar Le av es a b Affected development phase: Vegetative 27 Leaffolder What It Looks Like: Adults are pale yellowish brown, measuring 10 - 12 mm long. When the insect is resting, the wings look like a triangle. M. patnalis (a) has three long dark bands on the wings while C. medinalis (b) has two long bands and a short middle band. The larva (c) is yellowish green with brown head and can grow up to 16 mm long. Marasmia patnalis Cnaphalocrosis medinalis Favorable Conditions: High humidity Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Presence of weeds Shady areas Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: The moth usually rest in shaded areas, under the leaves and stems of rice and weeds. R ip en in g Le av es Maniniklop (Tagalog) Signs of Infestation: Folded leaves Fecal matter Damage: Larva folds the leaf longitudinally and seals the edges with a thread-like substance. It scrapes plant tissues inside the folded leaf causing white transparent streaks (d). At high infestation, many folded leaves stick together. Grains are partially filled when leaffolders feed on the flag leaf. a b c d Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive 28 Oxya chinensis Short-horned grasshopper What It Looks Like: Grasshoppers are green or pale brown with a dark stripe on each side of the insect body, starting from below the eyes extending to the wings. The third pair of legs are enlarged and are used for hopping. The females grow up to 30 mm while the males up to 20 mm. Favorable Conditions: Warm and humid environment Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Presence of alternate hosts Local Name: Damage: Nymphs and adults feed by chewing and consuming leaf margins leading to notches on the leaves. At heavy infestation, panicles are cut off Ecosystem: All rice environments but more common in lowland and rainfed ecosystems R ip en in g Where to Find It: On leaves of rice and grassy areas Le av es Tipaklong (Tagalog) Affected development phase: Vegetative 29 What It Looks Like: Adults (a, b) are pale yellowish white, measuring about 7.4 - 8.8 mm long. The wings are grayish white with visible veins. There are four black spots on the head. One spot is diamond-shaped located between the simple eyes. Among rice leafhoppers, this species is the biggest. Cofana spectra Favorable Conditions: High humidity Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Common during the wet season Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: On leaves of rice and grasses White leafhopper Damage: Leaf tips dry, turn orange and curl Stunting and yellowing Plants may die with severe infestation. Puting ngusong kabayo (Tagalog) Le av es a b Affected development phase: Vegetative 30 Whorl maggot What It Looks Like: The adult (a) is a gray fly. The female is 1.8 - 2.3 mm long while the male is slightly smaller. Newly hatched maggot is transparent to very light cream, turning yellowish as it matures(b). Hydrellia philippina Favorable Conditions: High humidity Continuously flooded fields Dense vegetation Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) R ep ro d u ct iv e Where to Find It: Adults rest on leaves and stems of the plant and at the base of the tiller. During the day, adults are active, float on water or cling to upright vegetation. R ip en in g Le av es Mambibilot (Tagalog) Damage: The maggots crawl inside the whorl and feed on unopened or developing leaves. Damage on the leaves are pinholes with white and yellowish lesions (c), which become visible as leaves mature. Severely damaged leaves easily break when hit by wind. a b c d Affected development phase: Vegetative 31 What It Looks Like: Adults (a) are brown and large, around 25 to 35 mm long. The front legs are modified for digging and burrowing in the soil. The nymphs share the characteristics of the adult but with not fully developed body parts. Gryllotalpa orientalis Favorable Conditions: Moist, loose and light textured soils Local Name: Damage: Adults and nymphs feed on the stems belowground and close to the roots. Sometimes only one or two tillers are cut, and damage only becomes visible when the tillers begin to dry a few days later. Affected plants appear as patches in the field. Brown wilted leaves (b) Missing hills Ecosystem: All rice environments but more common in non-flooded fields with moist soil. V eg et at iv e R ip en in g R ep ro d u ct iv e Mole cricket Where to Find It: It is usually found in areas where the soil is moist and loose. S te m s R o o ts Susuhong (Tagalog), Kamaro (Kapampangan), Ararawan (Iloko) a b Affected development phase: Vegetative 32 Pink stemborer What It Looks Like: Adults are light yellowish brown (a, b) with body length of 14 - 17 mm. The wings are brown with dark brown markings. Group of dense hairs can be seen on the back of the neck. The larva (c) has an orange head and a purplish pink body. The fully grown larva is 20 - 26 mm long. Sesamia inferens Favorable Conditions: High humidity Asynchronous planting Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Area is near a sugarcane field Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: The most can be seen resting under the leaves and stems during daytime. R ip en in g S te m s G ra in s Mala rosa na aksip (Tagalog) a b c d Damage: Death of growing point of a tiller called deadheart (easily pulled from the base) White empty panicle called whitehead (d)(easily pulled from the base) Fewer tillers than healthy plants Unfilled and partially filled grains Lodging of plants Signs of Infestation: Fecal matter Exit hole in the stem Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 33 Striped stemborer What It Looks Like: Adults are light brown and 13 - 16 mm long (a). The light brown wings have tiny black dots at the tips. A fully grown larva (b) is 26 mm long. It has a yellowish- brown head and brownish stripes on the body. Two or more larvae feed inside one stem (c). The scale-like, creamy white eggs (d) are laid in masses of about 50 - 200 eggs, usually in the underside of the leaves. Chilo suppressalis Favorable Conditions: High humidity Asynchronous planting Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: The moth stays on the leaves and stems during daytime R ip en in g S te m s G ra in s Damage: Death of growing point of a tiller called deadheart (easily pulled from the base) White empty panicle called whitehead (easily pulled from the base) Fewer tillers than healthy plants Unfilled and partially filled grains Lodging of plants Aksip (Tagalog) a b dc Signs of Infestation: Fecal matter Exit hole in the stem Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 34 Yellow stemborer What It Looks Like: The female adult is dull brown and has yellowish- brown wings with one black spot on each wing (a). The male is brown with no black spot on the wings. The fully grown larva (b) is 25 mm long and white or yellowish white. Oval and creamy white eggs (c) are laid in masses usually near the leaf tips. An egg mass contains about 100 - 150 eggs which are covered with hairs from the female moth. Scirpophaga incertulas Favorable Conditions: High humidity Asynchronous planting Continuous flooding Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: The moth is found on the leaves and stems of rice plants, weeds in bunds and field edges, and nearby vegetation. R ip en in g Signs of Infestation: Fecal matter Exit hole in the stem Damage: Death of growing point of a tiller called deadheart (d) (easily pulled from the base) White empty panicle called whitehead (e) (easily pulled from the base) Unfilled and partially filled grains Fewer tillers than healthy plants Lodging of plants Tamasok, Aksip na dilaw (Tagalog) S te m s G ra in s b ca d e Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 35 White Stemborer What It Looks Like: Adults are white (a) and a group of white hairs can be seen at the back of its neck. The moth resembles the yellow stemborer but without the black spot on the wings. Larvae are milky white and grow to a length of 25 mm. Eggs are laid in mass (b) of 70 - 260, usually on the underside of young leaves. An egg mass is covered with hairs from the female moth. Scirpophaga innotata Favorable Conditions: High humidity Asynchronous planting Continuous cropping Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Local Name: Damage: Death of growing point of a tiller called deadheart (c) (easily pulled from the base) White empty panicle called whitehead (d) (easily pulled from the base) Unfilled and partially filled grains Fewer tillers than healthy plants Lodging of plants Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) R ip en in g S te m s G ra in s Aksip na puti (Tagalog) a b c d Where to Find It: The moth is found on the leaves and stems of rice plants, weeds in bunds and field edges, and nearby vegetation. Signs of Infestation: Fecal matter Exit hole in the stem Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 36 Rice bug What It Looks Like: The adult is greenish brown with slender body (a) and about 16 - 19 mm long. Young nymph (b) is green and becomes brownish green as it matures. The eggs (c) are disc shaped which are laid in straight rows on the leaves. Leptocorisa oratorius Favorable Conditions: High humidity Asynchronous planting Extensive weedy areas near the rice fields Adjacent woodlands Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Upland Where to Find It: Nearby weedy areas and rice at reproductive stage R ip en in g G ra in s Atangya (Tagalog), Dangaw (Ilocano) Damage: Nymphs and adults suck contents of developing grains resulting in unfilled and partially filled grains. The grains have brown discoloration and often wrinkled (d) known as pecky rice. a b c d Signs of Infestation: Foul odor Affected development phase: Reproductive 37 Ear-cutting caterpillar or Armyworm What It Looks Like: The adult (a) is a stout purplish brown moth which measures 20 mm long. There are two round spots in the middle of each wing. Newly emerged larvae are dull white but older ones are usually green. The head is orange or brown. There are four stripes along the body (b). Mythimna separata Favorable Conditions: Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Heavy rains after a long dry period Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (mostly rainfed) and upland Where to Find It: The moth rests at the base of the plant during daytime. Harabas (Tagalog) W h o le P la n t Le av es Damage: Larvae feed by completely eating whole leaves or leaving only the midribs. Under heavy infestation, larvae swarm to the field at night entirely consuming the crop almost overnight. Mature larvae (b) cut off panicles. Larvae sometimes feed on the grains a b Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 38 R ep ro d u ct iv e Black bug What It Looks Like: The adult (a) is oval, brownish black and about 8 - 9 mm long. The nymphs (c) are light brown. Eggs (b) are deposited in mass at the base of the plant near the water surface. Newly laid eggs are greenish then turn pink when mature. Scotinophara spp. Favorable Conditions: Continuously cropped irrigated fields Poorly drained rice fields Staggered planting Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Presence of alternate hosts Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Where to Find It: Commonly found at the base of the rice plant R ip en in g Itim na atangya (Tagalog) Signs of Infestation: Foul odor Damage: Death of youngest leaf called deadheart Reddish brown and dry leaves Stunted growth Reduced tillering Whitehead with empty and partially filled grains. Death of plants called bugburn W h o le P la n t a c b Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 39 b c Brown planthopper W h o le P la n t a Nilaparvata lugens Kayumangging ngusong kabayo (Tagalog), Kayumangging hanip (Tagalog), Ulmog (Cebuano) What It Looks Like: Adults are brown, 4.5-5 mm long, with transparent wings. There are two adult forms, short-winged and long-winged. Newly hatched nymphs are white and older ones are brown. Adults and nymphs feed by sucking sap from the stems, usually at the base of the rice plant (a, b). V eg et at iv e Favorable Conditions: Close plant spacing High humidity Dense crop growth No defined fallow period Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Common Name: Where to Find It: Base of plants, just above the water level. Signs of Infestation: Sooty mold (c) Honeydew (sticky excess sap excreted by the brown planthopper) Presence of the insect and molted skin Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) Damage: Drying plants turn yellow and brown starting from the base. Brown patches of dry or dead plants in aggregated pattern, a condition called hopperburn (d) Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive d 40 V eg et at iv e a dc Green leafhopper W h o le P la n t b What It Looks Like: Adults (a) are green, 3-5 mm long, with pointed heads and green wings with black bands in the middle and at the tips. Nymphs are creamy white with black stripes along the sides. After molting, nymphs turn yellow to yellow-green (b). Nephotettix virescens Berdeng ngusong kabayo (Tagalog), Ulmog (Cebuano), Ulmog (Ilocano) Common Name: Favorable Conditions: Warm and humid environment Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Asynchronous planting Ecosystem: Lowland (rainfed and irrigated) Damage: Green leafhoppers transmit the virus causing tungro disease. Infected leaves (c, d) turn yellow, orange, or yellow orange and discoloration starts from the leaf tip downward. Small, irregular rust- colored spots may appear on discolored leaves. Severely affected plants may be stunted, have more dry leaves, fewer tillers, and delayed flowering. Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive Where to Find It: Aldults and nymphs are found on the leaves 41 What It Looks Like: Adult females (a) are usually 3.5 mm long while the males (b) are smaller around 2 mm long. The body is black to dark brown with transparent wings. The nymphs are light to dark brown and usually smaller compared to other planthopper species. Laodelphax striatellus Favorable Conditions: High humidity Close plant spacing Dense crop growth Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Asynchronous planting Local Name: Damage: Yellowing, drying and wilting of leaves Stunting Hopperburn Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) V eg et at iv e Where to Find It: Base of plants, just above the water level and inside the cluster of tillers Weedy rice fields and nearby weedy vegetation R ip en in g R ep ro d u ct iv e Smaller brown planthopper Signs of Infestation: Sooty mold Honeydew (sticky excess sap excreted by the hoppers) Presence of the insect and molted skin Kayumangging hanip (Tagalog) b a W h o le P la n t Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive 42 What It Looks Like: Adults (a, c) are pale brown, 3.5 - 4.0 mm long. with a central white band at the back from the head down, between the wings. Males have long wings while females may have either long or short wings. Each wing has a black spot at the center which lie on top of each other when the adult is at rest. Nymphs are white with dark brown marks (b). Sogatella furcifera Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) V eg et at iv e Where to Find It: On leaves and stems in the middle part of the plant Whitebacked planthopper Puting likod na ngusong kabayo (Tagalog) Signs of Infestation: Sooty mold Honeydew (sticky excess sap excreted by the hoppers) Presence of the insect and molted skin Damage: Yellowing of leaves Shorter panicle with fewer grains Partially filled grains Delayed ripening of grains Favorable Conditions: Close plant spacing High humidity Dense crop growth No defined fallow period Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Common in wet season W h o le P la n t a b c Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive 43 What It Looks Like: Adults are yellowish brown, 3.5 - 4.0 mm long. The wings are white with light brown markings and darker bands in a zigzag pattern. Adults have pinkish eyes. Nymphs are white to yellowish brown, with dark grey to black markings. Recilia dorsalis Favorable Conditions: Warm and humid environment Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer Close plant spacing Dense plant growth Heavy weed infestation Local Name: Ecosystem: Lowland (irrigated and rainfed) R ep ro d u ct iv e Where to Find It: On the leaves R ip en in g Zigzag leafhopper Sigsag na ngusong kabayo (Tagalog), Ulmog (Cebuano) Damage: Nymphs and adults suck plant sap from the leaves and stems. Leaf tips dry up and leaf margins become orange or yellow and curl. Causes mild stunting High population in seedbeds causes death of seedlings Transmits viruses that cause rice dwarf, orange leaf, and tungro W h o le P la n t Affected development phase: Vegetative Reproductive 44 Root-knot nematode b c a d R o o ts W h o le P la n t e Favorable Conditions: Dry, loose, sandy soil Moist soil intermittently flooded fields Meloidogyne graminicola What It Looks Like: Root tips of seedlings (a,b) and mature plants (c, d) develop galls, which are swollen or enlarged areas. A gall typically resembles a hook or knot. The roots become deformed, are shorter, and have fewer branches than those of healthy plants. Symptoms on the plants include yellowing of leaves and stunting, similar to viral disease symptoms or nutrient deficiency (e). Ecosystem: Lowland (rainfed), upland Affected Development Phase: Vegetative Reproductive Ripening 45