Hispa
General Information
Rice Hispa (Dicladispa armigera) is an insect pest. Both adults and grubs damage paddy leaves, reducing photosynthetic activity and affecting plant vigor.
Symptoms
- Adult beetles scrape the upper surface of leaf blades, leaving characteristic white streaks parallel to the midrib.
- Grubs mine into leaves, creating irregular translucent patches or blisters.
- Severely damaged leaves wither and dry up.
Preventive Measures
- Clip the infested leaf tips to reduce grub population.
- Conserve natural enemies like spiders and dragonflies.
- Avoid excessive nitrogenous fertilizer application.