June 2012] Insect pest damage in rice in relation to meteorological parameters 50 Journal of Agrometeorology 14 (1) : 50-53 (June 2012) Rice is grown in area where mean monthly temperature across the growing season ranges from 23.3- 27.7 o C, within a daily minimum temperatures of 15 o C and maximum temperature of 39 o C. These temperatures fall well within the favourable range for rice insect pests (Mochida et al , 1987). Insect-pests such as stem borer ( Scirpophaga incertulus), leaf folder (Cnaphalocrosis medinalis), plant/ grass hoppers (Sogatella furcifera, Nephotettix spp., and Nilaparvata lugens) were reported as major pests while hispa ( Dicladispa armigera ), ear-cutting caterpillar/ armyworm ( Mythimna separata ) and root weevil (Echinocnemus oryzae) as the minor pests of rice (Dhaliwal and Singh, 1983; Singh et al, 1993, Singh, et al., 2002 and Butter and Singh, 2005). During the last decade insect-pests scenario of rice has witnessed considerable changes due to changes in prevailing weather conditions in Punjab. The incidence and population build up of a pest is highly dependent on prevailing weather conditions and growth stage of the crop. The present investigation was planned to study the effect of meteorological parameters on the development of important pests of rice and formulate a tool for issuing agro-advisory for need based pesticide spraying schedule in rice. Incidence of Insect Pest Damage in Rice Crop in Relation to Meteorological Parameters in Punjab – A Plant Clinic Data Based Case Study SUBASH SINGH 1 , PRABHJYOT-KAUR 1 , VIJAY KUMAR 3 and HARPREET SINGH 1 Plant Clinic, Directorate of Extension Education 1 Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana – 141 004 email: prabhksidhu@gmail.com ABSTRACT The data incidence of insect pest of rice crop received at Plant Clinic, PAU Ludhiana during 2000-2009 were used to a study to analyse the effect of various meteorological parameters. Under Punjab conditions, maximum number (percent) of insect pest damage samples received at Plant Clinic were for plant hopper (44%) followed by leaf folder (30%) and stem borer (29%). The weather conditions conducive for the build up of rice pest population were cloudy weather coupled with a well distributed rainfall received in more number of rainy days during the crop season. Such conditions were observed during the high pest infestation years (pest samples >200) a well distributed (more number of rainy days) near or above normal rainfall was received during June to October, The climatic normals alongwith the interaction of rice crop, weather and insect population dynamics and these can be used as a tool for preparation of weather based agro-advisory. Key words: Rice, insect pest, activity period, meteorological parameters, yield, crop-weather-insec. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana established a Plant Clinic (Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC)) at the Directorate of Extension Education in April, 1999 which provides diagnostic services to the farmers and extension functionaries. In the process of providing services, Plant Clinic scientists of various disciplines i.e., entomology, plant pathology, agronomy and soils diagnose the crop disorders and devise the remedial measures to the farmers as per guidelines given by university package of practices. From the day of establishment of Plant Clinic till date crop samples received through farmers pertaining to various disorders were regularly diagnosed and their records have been maintained. Based on receipt of farmers samples at Plant Clinic, a study was conducted to analyse the effect of various meteorological parameters on the incidence of important pests of rice crop from kharif 2000 to kharif 2009. The rice pest considered in the study were plant hoppers, leaf folder, stem borer as the major pests whereas hispa, ear-cutting caterpillar/armyworm and root weevil as the minor pests. The data on monthly meteorological parameters w.r.t. maximum and minimum temperature, maximum and minimum relative humidity, rainfall,