Paddy Bug

Alydidae; Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg, 1783). This bug, commonly known as the Rice Bug or Paddy Bug is a very serious pest of rice crops in the Philippines and much of Southeast Asia. It invades the rice crops, in fairly small numbers, when the rice is young and still developing and it, sometimes, goes unnoticed. However, when the rice starts to ripen and is almost ready for harvesting, the colour of the bugs becomes darker and the true extent of the infestation can be seen. When that happens, it is usually too late and much of the crop can be ruined. In the past, farmers were sometimes tempted to use pesticides, at this late stage and that could result in chemical residue being present in the rice, which people eat. Fortunately, the great majority of farmers have learned to deal with these infestations much earlier and the Philippines has become well known for high quality rice production.