Paddy Gall Midge: An Integrated Pest Management Guide

The Paddy Gall Midge, which is scientifically known as Orseolia oryzae is an insect pest that attacks paddy crops. It is a significant threat to the rice crop in many parts of India, causing severe damage to the yield and quality of the crop. This paddy gall midge is mainly found in irrigated conditions during the tillering stage of the rice crop. Cloudy or rainy weather favors the population density of rice gall midge. They are orange colored mosquito like fly, which undergoes several stages of development including egg, larva, pupa and adult. 

Type of Infestation

The Paddy Gall Midge infests the rice crop, primarily attacking the stem of the plant. It causes a characteristic swelling or gall formation, which provides the larvae or nymphs with food and protection. The pest can infest the rice crop at any stage of its growth, from seedling to maturity, but it is most severe during the vegetative and reproductive stages of the plant.    

Scientific Name: Orseolia oryzae 

Most Affected States

The Paddy Gall Midge is a significant threat to the rice crop in many parts of India, but it is most severe in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh 

Symptoms of Paddy Gall Midge

The Paddy Gall Midge infestation causes several damaging symptoms or signs on the rice crop,  

• The most characteristic symptom of paddy gall midge infestation is the formation of a gall or swelling on the rice plant’s stem. The gall is caused by the larvae or nymphs of the pest, which feed on the stem’s inner tissue, causing it to swell. 
• Onion leaf or silver shoot is the most common symptom caused by paddy gall midge. 
• Infested tiller fails to produce panicles. 
• The Paddy Gall midge infestation can also cause stunted growth of the rice plant. 

Control Measures

An integrated Pest Management measures includes cultural, physical, mechanical, biological and chemical method which is often required to control paddy gall midge effectively. 

Cultural Measures

• Cultivate gall midge resistant paddy varieties like IR 36, MDU 3, Shakti, Jyoti, Vikram, Sureka. 
• Deep ploughing helps to bury the larvae and pupae of the pest, preventing their emergence. 
• Early planting is recommended as it can help in reducing the prevalence of gall midge. 
• Maintain field sanitation by destroying affected crop debris and weeds. 

Physical Measures

• Solar Light Trap can be used to trap and kill paddy gall midge. Since the gall midge adults are active during the evening hours, it is recommended to install light traps at a rate of 1 trap per acre between 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM in order to attract them. 

Mechanical Measures

• Barrix Magic Sticker Trap Yellow Sheet attracts the adult gall midges and kills them. For an acre, use 10 sheets of sticky trap and place them above the plant foliage for effective trapping. 

Biological Measures

• Release Platygaster oryzae, an egg larval parasitoid of gall midge at the rate of 1 per 10 square meters in the main field on the 10th day after transplanting. 
• Introduce the carabid beetle, Ophionia indica, which is an effective predator of gall midge. 
• Greenpeace Neemol Bio Neem Oil Insecticide contains neem-based products azadirachtin which when used at the rate of 1-2 ml per liter of water with 15 days interval between each spray can effectively control gall midge in paddy fields. 
• Anshul Bio Finish is a broad spectrum biopesticide containing active ingredients derived from many plants. Use Anshul Bio Finish biopesticide at the rate of 3-5ml per liter of water at regular intervals of 10-12 days for effective control of midges. 

Chemical Measures

Some of the commercial chemicals that are used to control rice gall midge includes,