Insects

Generally, it is not recommended to spray in the early stages of crop growth (0−40 DAP) because the plant can recover from much of the damage without any loss to yield.

In the early stages of the rice crop, several common insects such as the leaffolder, whorl maggot, and armyworms can cause highly visible damage symptoms; however, the damage is rarely enough to reduce yield because the crop can compensate for early damage over the rest of the growing season.

In most cases, insecticides applied in rice fields during the early crop stages to control leaffolders or whorl maggots are unlikely to benefit farmers economically. Instead, they can cause an imbalance in the natural insect population that may lead to pest outbreaks.