Rice Delphacid Kicked The Door Down

DR. NICK BATEMAN AND DR. JARROD HARDKE

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

Not so fast, my friends.  In less than a week we have gone from Rice Delphacid (RD) getting close to Arkansas to finding full blown outbreaks of this pest in southwest Arkansas, and the first report in the Delta region near Lake Village.

Rice that is in the late boot to early heading stages is still very much of concern to possible RD infestation and damage.  Luckily the majority of rice in the state is being harvested, ready for harvest, or about to be.  But we need to keep on the lookout in any later rice fields, especially those green enough to still require sweeping for stink bugs.

Hopefully there won’t be need for much alarm in our major rice growing region this year, but we still want to monitor its spread and take any opportunity this year to look at control options in case it decides to stay around for future seasons.  Please report any findings (or possible findings) to us so we can check it out.  Do not wait to see hopper burn areas in the field before deciding to look for this pest as by then we may not be able to slow it down.   ∆

NICK BATEMAN AND JARROD HARDKE

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS