Rice, maize and wheat are considered as most important crops in our food basket. Various types of insect-pests infest these crops. All are not economically important as major pests of cereals. Paddy stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas), leaf roller (Cnaphalacrosis medinalis), spiny beetle (Dicladispa armigera), gall midge (Orseolia oryzae), leaf hopper (Nephotettix spp.), plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and ear head bug (Leptocorisa acuta) in rice; shoot fly (Atherigona soccata), stem borer (Chilo partellus), aphid (Ropalosiphum maidis) and fall army worm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize and termite (Odontotermes obesus) in wheat have been selected here as major insect problems in cereals. In this chapter, biology, damage and integrated management of above cited major insects have been highlighted. In most cases, crop wise chemical insecticides are recommended here as per strict guidelines of central insecticide board, Govt. of India. A catalogue of vital hexapod nuisances in case of paddy, maize and wheat has also been mentioned.
Cereals, Rice, Maize, Wheat, Pests, Management
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