Stem Borer Control — How to Identify, Treat & Prevent Stem Borer in Paddy & Maize
Stem borer is the most economically damaging pest of paddy and maize in India, causing dead heart and white ear that result in complete loss of the affected tiller. Granule application at the right growth stage is the most effective control method.
How to identify stem borer
Watch for these signs in your field.
Dead heart in young plants
The central shoot of young paddy or maize plants turns yellow and dries up while surrounding tillers remain green — the classic 'dead heart' symptom of early-stage stem borer attack.
White ear in reproductive stage
Panicles emerge white and empty at the grain-filling stage because the larva has severed the stem internally, cutting off water and nutrient supply to the ear.
Yellowing tillers with frass
Affected tillers yellow from the base upward with fine frass (larval excreta) visible near the stem entry point at ground level or in the leaf sheath.
How to control stem borer
Follow this step-by-step protocol for best results.
Apply granules at critical growth stages
Apply Carbofuran 3% GR (33 kg/ha) as a basal application or Cartap Hydrochloride 4% GR at tillering (20–25 days after transplanting). Drop granules directly into the leaf whorl for maximum contact with young larvae.
Spray foliar insecticide at ETL
Use Chlorpyrifos 20% EC (2.5 ml/L) when dead heart incidence exceeds 5% at vegetative stage or 1% at booting/panicle stage. Spray in the early morning when larvae are active near the leaf whorl surface.
Remove dead hearts and practice field sanitation
Pull and destroy dead hearts as soon as detected to reduce larval population. Cut and burn crop stubble after harvest to destroy overwintering pupae. Use light traps at 1 per acre to monitor adult moth activity and time spray applications.
Which crops are at risk?
Tap a crop for the full pest management guide.
Stem Borer — Common Questions
What is the difference between dead heart and white ear?
Dead heart occurs when stem borer attacks paddy during the vegetative stage — the central shoot dies while the plant is still young. White ear (also called dead panicle) occurs at the reproductive stage when the borer severs internal stem tissue after panicle emergence, causing the ear to turn white and remain empty. Both are caused by the same pest but at different crop stages.
What is the best method to apply granular insecticides for stem borer?
For paddy, apply granules directly into the leaf whorl by hand, aiming for 3–4 granules per hill at tillering and panicle initiation stages. For maize, drop granules into the central whorl. Maintain standing water in paddy fields at the time of granule application to help the chemical move into the plant system.
What is the ETL threshold for stem borer in paddy?
The Economic Threshold Level for stem borer in paddy is 5% dead hearts at the vegetative stage and 1% white ears at the reproductive stage. Monitor fields twice a week during tillering and booting stages. Install pheromone traps for Scirpophaga species at 5 traps per acre to track adult moth activity.
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