Panicle mite is a major pest that infests paddy crops and leads to significant yield losses. The tiny mites feed on the rice plants’ developing panicles, which include the flowers, preventing the rice grains from forming correctly. The infestation can cause up to 60-70% yield loss, making it crucial to control panicle mites in paddy crops.
Controlling panicle mites in paddy crops requires an integrated pest management approach. This approach combines various measures to prevent and control the infestation. Below are some of the methods of controlling panicle mites in paddy crops.
1. Use Raft/Bamboo Traps: Raft/Bamboo traps lure in the panicle mites and catch them, preventing them from infesting the rice plants. Farmers can hang traps within the rice fields before the flowering stage.
2. Cultural Practices: Proper cultural practices such as timely sowing, nursery management, maintaining proper plant densities, and irrigation practices can reduce the panicle mite population.
3. Use of Neem Products: Neem oil, neem cake, or other neem-based products are a natural and effective way to control panicle mites in paddy crops. They help as a repellent and also control the population of the panicle mites.
4. Chemical control: The use of chemical insecticides is also an effective method to control panicle mites in paddy crops. Some chemicals that can be used include profenophos, monocrotophos, and spiromesifen. However, farmers must follow the recommended dosage and adhere to the safe waiting periods before harvesting.
5. Biological control: The predatory mite, Swirskii-Mite, is known to feed on the panicle mites and control their population. Farmers can introduce these predator mites into their rice fields to control panicle mites’ infestation.
In conclusion, panicle mites are a significant pest that leads to decrease in rice yields, causing significant losses to farmers. The control methods outlined, namely traps, proper cultural practices, use of neem products, chemical and biological controls, are some of the effective ways farmers can control panicle mites infestation. Therefore, farmers should adopt an integrated pest management approach to control the population of panicle mites and protect their rice crop from these pest infestations.