Scientific control methods for the first-generation Asiatic rice borer (Chilo suppressalis) in rice

According to surveys conducted across Hubei Province, the overwintering mortality rate of the Asiatic rice borer this year was higher than last year, and the post-winter population base was lower than last year but still relatively high. In addition, suitable climate conditions and the expansion of high-quality rice varieties are both favorable to the occurrence and damage of rice stem borers, and the first-generation Asiatic rice borer will show a major outbreak trend in the rice-growing areas of our province, making the control situation still severe. In response to this severe situation, all localities should strengthen leadership, raise awareness, actively organize control efforts, and quickly launch a campaign to wrest grain from the pests to ensure the safety of grain production.

1. Recognize the situation clearly and strengthen organizational leadership. Last winter, our province suffered freezing ice and snow disasters, and the overwintering mortality rate of rice stem borers in most areas of the province was higher than last year, with the post-winter population base decreasing by 14% to 63% compared with last year. However, we must clearly recognize that the absolute number of the post-winter population base is still relatively high. According to post-winter surveys, the average number of live insects per mu in the Jianghan Plain was 3,380.3, and in eastern Hubei it was 5,389.9, meeting the conditions for a major outbreak. It is expected that the first-generation Asiatic rice borer will still show a major outbreak trend in most of our province. In response to the current severe situation of rice stem borer occurrence, plant disease, insect, weed, and rodent control command headquarters at all levels and relevant departments must fully recognize the severity of the occurrence and damage of the first-generation Asiatic rice borer and the urgency of control work, overcome complacency, conscientiously implement the plant protection guiding ideology of "safety of targets, strengthening mechanisms, prevention first, integrated control," strengthen organizational leadership over the prevention and control of the first-generation Asiatic rice borer in rice, and carry out a massive campaign for prevention, control, and eradication. It is necessary to organize and implement measures involving technology, personnel, funds, and materials, establish a responsibility system, and strengthen accountability. During the critical period of control, dispatch supervision teams to urge and guide prevention and control work, with emphasis on supervising at the township and village levels, urging township and village cadres to mobilize and organize farmers to carry out control work.

2. Seize the timing and strengthen scientific control. In view of the characteristics of the first-generation Asiatic rice borer occurrence in our province this year, all localities should, according to the actual local situation, adapt measures to local conditions, provide classified guidance, and promptly carry out prevention and control work. This year, the occurrence period of the first-generation Asiatic rice borer was delayed by about 3 to 5 days compared with normal years, the peak hatching period was prolonged, and the number of egg masses in the field was high. In response to these characteristics, all localities are required to carry out one general treatment in mid-May for early rice fields, middle rice seedling fields, and early-transplanted middle rice fields, and for heavily infested fields, apply one supplementary treatment 7 days later, with emphasis on controlling early rice fields and middle rice seedling fields with better growth. This will control the population base of the first-generation Asiatic rice borer and reduce the pressure of controlling the second generation. Pesticides such as fipronil, bisultap, Bt emulsion, and fipronil can be selected for control.

3. Strengthen publicity and create an atmosphere for prevention and control. In view of the reality that farmers do not have a high awareness of controlling early rice diseases and insect pests, all localities should make full use of television, radio, newspapers, the internet, and other media to publicize information on disease and insect occurrence and technical control measures, promptly and accurately convey disease and insect occurrence information, appropriate control timing, and control methods to grassroots cadres and the broad masses of farmers, and enhance farmers' awareness of control. At appropriate times, television lectures, training classes, on-site control meetings, and other forms should be used to provide scientific guidance to farmers and improve the technical level and effectiveness of first-generation Asiatic rice borer control.

4. Strengthen mechanized control capacity building and improve prevention and control effectiveness. Establishing a mechanized control system is a need of modern agricultural development and a need of agricultural and rural economic development. All localities should, in light of local realities, follow the guiding ideology of "government promotion, departmental assistance, market drive, and combination of unified and separate operations," adopt an operating mechanism of "voluntary and mutually beneficial, paid services, and self-development," effectively organize measures, and accelerate the pace of establishing specialized pest mechanical control service organizations. At the same time, it is necessary to establish demonstration and comparison display areas for pest disasters and integrated control technologies, vigorously carry out plant protection community services, pest control technology contracting, and consultation activities, so as to continuously promote large-scale control work and improve control effectiveness.

5. Strengthen market supervision and ensure pesticide supply. Agricultural departments at all levels should promptly grasp information on pesticide supply, quality, and prices, provide the government, agricultural material supply departments, and dealers with information on the types and quantities of pesticides needed for pest control, promptly adjust pesticide supply, and ensure the normal progress of control work. At the same time, all localities should strengthen pesticide market management, carry out dragnet quality inspections, seriously investigate and deal with counterfeit and inferior pesticides, severely crack down on the production of fake and inferior goods, cheating and harming farmers, and the production and sale of methamidophos and other banned highly toxic pesticides, focus on investigating and handling a number of major and important cases, and promptly expose them to the public.