Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Hesperiidae

Genus: Pelopidas

Species: P. mathias

There are over 3500 recognized species of skipper and they occur worldwide, with the greatest diversity in the tropical regions of Central and South America. It is found throughout much of south,[1] southeast and East Asia, and as far as the Philippines. It is also present in tropical Africa and Arabia.

Host Range
The rice skipper primarily infests rice plants but may also affect other grass species in its host range.

The identification of the rice skipper (skipper or rice leafroller) involves distinctive features in its various life stages:

Eggs: Rice skipper eggs are typically spherical, yellowish, or pale green, laid on the lower side of rice leaves.

Larva: The nocturnal larvae are approximately 50 mm in size, with a green color and a raised dorsal ridge, featuring a red longitudinal line on each side.

Adults: Adult rice skippers are characterized by their light brown color with a subtle almond tint, and they have a distinctive white pattern on the right side of their bodies

Identifying rice skipper species can be challenging due to problems associated with identical signs shared among them. Morphological similarities, especially in coloration and wing patterns, may lead to confusion in distinguishing between different species. The challenge is amplified when dealing with closely related skipper species that exhibit nearly identical signs during their various life stages.

The rice skipper, also known as a skipper or rice leafroller, exhibits specific habits and habitats in its life cycle. These insects predominantly inhabit rice fields, particularly those dependent on rain. Their habitat choice aligns with the presence of their primary host, rice plants, where they find ample foliage for feeding and breeding. The skipper’s habit of laying eggs on the lower side of rice leaves contributes to the survival and development of their larvae, which are nocturnal feeders primarily active during the night. As adults, rice skippers showcase swift and agile flight habits, enabling them to move efficiently between rice plants.

Rice skippers are found in all rice environments. They are most abundant in rainfed rice fields. The adults are diurnal and at t nighttime, they rest. They have very fast and erratic flight movement as they skip from plant to plant. The larvae are nocturnal. They feed on the leaf blades at night and rest during daytime. They also create a leaf chamber where they rest during the day. The insect favors young transplanted rice seedlings. Feeding damage continues until plant maturation.

The life cycle, or bionomics, of the rice skipper involves several distinct stages, each contributing to its development and impact on rice crops. The cycle typically consists of four main phases: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Egg Stage: The life cycle begins with adult female rice skippers laying spherical, yellowish, or pale green eggs on the lower side of rice leaves. These eggs serve as the starting point for the development of the next generation.

Larval Stage: Once the eggs hatch, nocturnal larvae emerge. These larvae, approximately 50 mm in size, are green in color and feature a distinctive raised dorsal ridge with a red longitudinal line on each side. They feed on rice foliage during their active feeding phase.

Pupal Stage: Following the larval stage, the rice skipper undergoes pupation. The pupa is usually light brown or light green and has a characteristic head with eyes. This stage represents a period of transformation and preparation for adulthood.

Adult Stage: The final stage is the emergence of the adult rice skipper. Adults are characterized by a light brown color with a subtle almond tint and a distinctive white pattern on the right side of their bodies. They exhibit swift and agile flight habits, allowing them to move efficiently between rice plants for feeding and reproduction.

The rice skipper, as a pest, inflicts damage on rice crops primarily through its feeding activities, affecting both the quantity and quality of the harvested yield. The larvae of rice skippers, during their nocturnal feeding phase, consume rice foliage, leading to characteristic feeding damage. This includes the creation of irregular holes and notches on the leaves, compromising the plant’s ability to photosynthesize effectively. Severe infestations can result in extensive leaf skeletonization, significantly reducing the overall leaf area and potentially inhibiting the plant’s growth and productivity. The cumulative impact of feeding by rice skippers may lead to stunted growth, reduced yield, and an increased susceptibility to other stressors.

1. Edges of the leaves are fastened with webbing

2. Backward rolling of leaves

3. Larva feeds from margin to inwards

4. Defoliation is readily recognized. The larvae are large and remove significant amounts of leaf tissue. The damage usually occurs in patches and most commonly in the reproductive growth stage of rice.

1. Edges of the leaves are fastened with webbing

2. Backward rolling of leaves

3. Larva feeds from margin to inwards

4. Defoliation is readily recognized. The larvae are large and remove significant amounts of leaf tissue. The damage usually occurs in patches and most commonly in the reproductive growth stage of rice.

Rice skipper is considered as a minor pest in rice. They can be easily controlled because of the low potential severity and low population density. Yield losses caused by their feeding damage is very rare.

A working strategy to minimize the economic loss caused by a defoliating pest, such as P. guttatus, is to focus on good agronomic management to ensure the greatest tolerance to loss of photosynthetic area. Good fertilization should be encouraged even if it slightly favours higher pest densities because the crop should be able to compensate for this. Hybrid rices in particular can compensate for defoliation (Tu et al., 1985). Early planting (in relation to other farms in the vicinity) is normally a good strategy to escape pest build-up. The numbers of P. guttatus are held in check by a large array of parasitoids and predators. If insecticides are needed to control P. guttatus, selective, narrow-spectrum types should be chosen that do not affect its natural enemies.

Several cultural control methods have been outlined by Litsinger (1994). Early plantings generally escape damage (Okamoto and Abe, 1960). Silica supplements have been used to increase the silica content of the crop to enhance its resistance to larval feeding (Sasamoto, 1957).Larvae can be picked by hand from the foliage and special combs have been developed to aid in this task (Litsinger, 1994). Another traditional practice involves removing the top third of the vegetative crop, which contains the eggs and the larvae. This can be used for forage, which is often scarce during the rice season because grazing lands are limited. Studies have shown that limited defoliation during the early growth stages in certain varieties can increase the yield, irrespective of insect pressure.

Parasites and predators usually control the population density of rice skippers in the field. The eggs of rice skippers are parasitized by small wasps. Big wasps and tachinid flies parasitize the larvae. They are preyed upon by reduviid bugs and earwigs. The orb-web spiders feed on the adults during flight. A nuclear polyhedrosis virus also infects skipper larvae. Parasitoids and predators usually control skippers in nature in the field. Eggs of rice skippers are parasitized by small wasps. The orb-web spiders feed on the adults during flight. A nuclear polyhedrosis virus also infects skipper larvae.

Narrow-spectrum insecticides should be chosen so that the natural enemies are not disrupted. The decision to apply insecticides should be based on weekly monitoring of the field. In China, Pang (1987) has established control thresholds for tillering (36 second- to third-instar larvae per 100 hills) and the booting stage (25 larvae per 100 hills). The thresholds are higher for hybrid rice (41 larvae at tillering and 33 at booting) because of its greater tolerance to defoliation. Also in China, Liu et al. (1990) have set control thresholds based on egg density within a range of 87-105 eggs per 100 hills. The higher threshold density for eggs reflects the expected natural mortality. Because the natural mortality for eggs varies widely, thresholds based on larval densities are preferable. No pheromone has been identified. If damage to leaves reaches 25% or more, pesticide application is recommended. For controlling this pest, mix 10 milliliters of Golah 48 EC in 10 liters of water and spray on the affected area at the rate of 5 liters per 100 square meters. This translates to 200 milliliters per acre. To prevent pest infestation, apply 1.5 grams of Thioside 75 WG per 10 liters of water before the onset of infestation, spraying 5% of the land. The application rate is 10 grams per acre. Evening application is more effective.

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1. https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/10.1079/pwkb.species.38918

2. https://eurekamag.com/research/004/241/004241729.php

3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1017/S1742758400016702

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=rice+AND+skipper+OR+Pelopidas+mathias

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelopidas_mathias#:~:text=It%20is%20found%20throughout%20much,in%20tropical%20Africa%20and%20Arabia

2. https://www.acicropcare.com/crop-pest-solution/rice-pest-management/dhaner-skipar-poka

3. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/crop_protection/rice/crop_prot_crop_insectpest%20_cereals_paddy_m4.html

4. http://eagri.org/eagri50/ENTO331/lecture02/006.html

5. https://krishimala.com/catalogue/rice-skipper

6. https://plantwiseplusknowledgebank.org/doi/10.1079/pwkb.species.38918