Incidence of Rice Insect Pests in Agro-Climatic Conditions of Sarojani Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important staple food crops in the world, feeding more than half of the global population. Uttar Pradesh is one of the major rice-growing regions, contributing significantly to the country's total rice production. Uttar Pradesh creates a congenial environment for the multiplication and survival of various pest species. The present study was conducted from 10 August 2025 to 11 November 2025 over a continuous period during the Kharif season, in Sarojani Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The selected field was an ideal location for assessing natural pest incidence under real farming conditions. Regular field visits were carried out once every week to maintain uniformity in observation frequency. Each survey included a systematic walkthrough of the rice field to observe pest activity, plant damage symptoms, and changes in pest population. Observations were taken weekly at different crop phenological stages. Yellow Stem Borer, Brown Plant-hopper, Rice Hispa, Grasshopper, and Rice Water Weevil were observed. Overall, data showed that pest incidence peaked during periods of high humidity and moderate- to-high temperature and declined as conditions became drier. This clearly indicates that warm and humid conditions significantly enhanced pest activity, whereas dry and cooler conditions suppressed most pests.