Rice Stem Gall Midge

Symptom

The midge start attacks from (7) days after sowing in tillering stage. It usually damages from the nursery stage until the panicle initiation. The most obvious symptom is the development of "onion shoot" galls in growing crops. These galls are easily seen, especially as they often have a light-coloured silvery appearance 'silver shoot' and are quite unlike the symptoms produced by other pests or diseases. As the caterpillar destroys the shoot tip of the rice plant, the damaged shoot becomes hollow inside the stem base and becomes swollen in shape. When midge infestations are at a low level there will not be any obvious effect on the incidence of ear-head formation, but severe infestations will stunt plants, suppress heading and enhance tillering.