ILOILO – From the rice fields of the northern towns of Sara, San Dionisio, Concepcion, and Ajuy rice black bugs have spread to Banate, Passi City, Calinog, Lemery, and San Rafael.
According to the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) assistant head Elias Sandig Jr., farmers in these areas should fight the bugs through light trapping.
The bugs are strongly attracted to high intensity light.
Sandig said the rice black bugs could further spread.
“They breed fast,” he stressed.
These pests feed on rice plants from their seedling up to the maturity stage. They are highly destructive and thrive in well-irrigated but poorly-drained areas.
But so far, farmers have not complained of damage to their standing rice crops.
The International Rice Research Institute has the following suggestions to determine if rice plants are being attacked by black bugs:
* Check leaves for discoloration. Black bug damage can cause reddish brown or yellowing of plants. Leaves also have chlorotic lesions.
* Check for decreased tillering. Bugburn symptoms show wilting of tillers with no visible honeydew deposits or sooty molds.
* Plants are also stunted; and can develop stunted panicles, no panicles, incompletely exerted panicles, and unfilled spikelets or whiteheads at booting stage.
* Check for deadhearts./PN
