'Ulsan Fields Threatened by "Meoknorinjae" Pest... Detected Earlier Than Usual'

Ulsan Agricultural Technology Center "Rice Crop Damage Occurred"

Increase Self-Monitoring to Prevent Damage

Damage caused by the "meoknorinjae," the field assassin that gnaws on rice, has occurred earlier than usual, putting farmers in the Ulsan area on alert.

The Ulsan Agricultural Technology Center (Director Shin Taeman) announced on the 15th that early meoknorinjae damage has been found mainly in rice paddies where early transplanting was done, urging caution. The meoknorinjae is a pest that overwinters as an adult under fallen leaves near the foothills around rice paddies or on paddy ridges, then moves into the paddies to cause damage.

Adult individuals were first collected this year on the 8th in the surveillance plots investigated by the Agricultural Technology Center. This is 10 days earlier than last year. Additionally, on the 12th, field inspections following farmer damage reports confirmed damage caused by meoknorinjae.

In areas where meoknorinjae occurred last year (Onyang, Eonyang, Duseo, Samdong), it is pointed out that farmers must carefully check the supplementary seedlings left in the paddies after transplanting. If adult individuals are found, control measures should be implemented to reduce their numbers before females lay eggs. Missing this timing will result in damage from larvae hatched from the eggs continuing until October.

Stink bug.

Stink bug damage.

Early symptoms of meoknorinjae damage include irregular horizontal patterns on leaves, bending, and yellowing and drying of the inner leaves. In severe cases, rice plants become stunted, tillering is suppressed, and plants may wither and die. Later stages show symptoms such as spotted rice grains or panicle blight symptoms that visually resemble damage caused by the rice false smut pathogen.

When controlling meoknorinjae, it is important to spray enough pesticide so that the liquid flows down the lower parts of the rice stems, considering their habit of hiding at slight shocks or sounds, ensuring the pesticide contacts the bodies of the meoknorinjae. It is also advisable to control weeds on paddy ridges and drainage ditches, which serve as overwintering habitats.

An official from the Agricultural Technology Center stated, "Most complaints about abnormal symptoms during the mid to late growth stages of rice in the past 2-3 years have been confirmed as damage caused by meoknorinjae," and urged, "Areas with early transplanting and paddies that experienced damage last year should be carefully monitored, especially around the edges such as paddy ridges."

Currently, 54 pesticide products are registered for meoknorinjae control, and usage timing and methods can be checked on the Pesticide Safety Information System.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.