Identifying marks:
The adults are small, delicate, snowy-white moths with pale brown or black spots on the wings. They have a wing span of 1.5 2.5 cm. Larvae are pale translucent green, with a pale orange head. There are easy early detection methods to know the pest activity in the area. Moths are attracted to light traps, which also indicates whether there is pest activity in the area.
Where to find:
Caseworm is found in rainfed and wetland areas where standing water in the field is a prerequisite for larval survival. The infestation is severe on dwarf, compact, heavy-tillering, and high-yielding varieties during the rainy season. Defoliation occurs before maximum tillering of rice. Life cycle of a caseworm
adult 4-7 days 2-6 days pupa egg larva
Damage:
The larva is the damaging stage. The larvae cut the tip of the leaves as though by scissors, to make floating cases. They use these cases as a reservoir of water for breathing, and to protect themselves against predators.
Management options
Cultural
- Flooding the stubble drowns grasshoppers.
- Shaving of bunds kills egg pods.
- Sweeping along the bunds reduces their numbers.
- Adults are sluggish at night, can be picked directly from the foliage, and eaten by people.
Biological
- Small wasps attack grasshopper eggs.
- Parasitic flies, nematodes, and fungal and bacterial pathogens kill nymphs and adults.
- Birds (house sparrow), frogs, and web-spinning spiders are major predators of nymphs and adults.
