Drugs to control thrips in rice fields

To control thrips pests in rice fields, insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid are commonly used. These insecticides target thrips through various mechanisms of action, including disrupting their nervous system or interfering with their feeding behavior.

 

Thrips pests can cause severe damage to rice plants. Especially in seedlings and early growth stages.

 

Damage caused by thrips to rice plants includes:

 

Feeding Damage: Thrips eat the sap of rice by piercing and sucking the cellular contents of leaves, stems and panicles. This feeding activity causes silvery-grey or white spots to form on the leaf surface, reducing the plant's ability to photosynthesize and stunting growth.

 

Leaf curl: Thrips feed on young rice leaves, causing them to curl or twist, affecting their normal development and reducing the leaf area available for photosynthesis.

 

Stunted growth: Severe thrips infestation can stunt rice growth, resulting in reduced plant height and overall biomass production. This stunted growth results in poor crop growth and lower yields at harvest.

 

Disease Transmission: Thrips can act as vectors for various viral diseases that affect rice plants. Examples include rice stripe virus and rice black-striped dwarf virus. When thrips feed on infected plants, they can acquire the virus and transmit it to healthy plants during subsequent feeding. Eventually, the disease spreads within the rice fields.

 

To control thrips pests in rice fields, insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid are commonly used. These insecticides target thrips through various mechanisms of action, including disrupting their nervous system or interfering with their feeding behavior.

 

Chlorpyrifos: It is an organophosphorus pesticide that inhibits the activity of acetylcholinesterase in thrips, causing paralysis and eventual death of thrips.

 

Imidacloprid and Acetamiprid: These are neonicotinoid insecticides that act on thrips’ nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, causing overstimulation and paralysis of the nervous system.

 

 

When applying insecticides to control thrips in rice fields, you must pay attention to the following matters:

 

1. Before using any pesticide, carefully read and follow label instructions.

2. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, and masks when handling and using pesticides.

3. Avoid spraying pesticides in windy conditions to prevent drift and minimize contact with non-target organisms.

4. Apply insecticide in the early morning or late afternoon when thrips are most active for best results.

5. Use the recommended dosage and usage stated on the label to ensure effective thrips control while minimizing environmental impact.

6. Avoid spraying pesticides near rivers, lakes, ponds and other water bodies to prevent pollution of aquatic ecosystems.

7. Rotate insecticides with different modes of action to reduce the risk of thrips developing resistance to specific chemicals.

 

By following these precautions and using insecticides with different modes of action, farmers can effectively control thrips infestations in rice fields while minimizing the risk of environmental contamination and resistance development.