Integrated management of rice leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Guenée), life cycle, seasonal dynamics, and sustainable control strategies

Rice is cultivated across diverse agro-ecosystems worldwide, rich in calories and nutrients. Ensuring rice security is fundamental to achieving overall food security. Rice leaffolder (RLF) is one of the significant and major migratory pests, can causes substantial yield losses, particularly during the reproductive stage. RLF undergoes four distinct stages of life cycle; egg-larva-pupa, and adult. Larvae being most destructive, fold rice leaves and feed on chlorophyll-rich tissues, leading to reduced photosynthesis, stunted plant growth, and ultimately lower yields. Year round abundance but peak infestation in September-October coinciding with panicle initiation to heading stage in tropical and sub-tropical region. Prevalence is influence by climate variability and cultural practices, such as excessive nitrogen fertilization and continuous cropping. Its exhibits strong flight capabilities and thrives in environments with high humidity and optimal temperatures from 25-31 °C. Effective-ecologically sound management practices is crucial for RLF management. Cultural management, like balanced fertilization, timely planting, and field sanitation reduce pest habitat suitability. Avoiding early-season insecticide use and conserving natural enemies through ecological-engineering; planting nectar-rich flowering plants along bunds where it can promote populations of predators and parasitoids, which are most active during the vegetative phase. Additionally, sex pheromone traps, botanicals (neem-based products: neem oil; Lantana camera, Azadirachtin) and biopesticides (Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae) have shown efficacy in suppressing the populations. Based on economic threshold levels, diamides (flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole), Oxadiazine (indoxacarb), nereistoxin (cartap-hydrochloride,) avermectins (emamectin-benzoate) can be judicially used as chemical control. An integrated approach that combines monitoring, forecasting, cultural, ecological, biological, and chemical methods provides an effective and sustainable framework for managing RLF, thereby safeguarding rice production.