{"id":27639,"date":"2026-09-02T18:49:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T22:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/2026\/arroz\/arroz-veja-como-identificar-o-momento-de-controlar-cupins\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T18:49:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T22:49:47","slug":"arroz-veja-como-identificar-o-momento-de-controlar-cupins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/2026\/arroz\/arroz-veja-como-identificar-o-momento-de-controlar-cupins\/","title":{"rendered":"Rice: learn how to identify when to control termites."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Termites in rice<\/a> These pests can cause stand failures and compromise productivity, especially in rainfed areas, dry borders, and locations with greater humidity variation. Monitoring between September and March helps producers identify when the presence of the pest represents only a one-off problem or when the damage already justifies intervention.\n<\/p>\n

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Mound termites, also called hill termites, are common in pasture areas and grain fields. In rice cultivation, they are important in upland rice areas, plots with irrigation failures, and patches of sandy or compacted soil.<\/p>\n

During this period, the producer may find many old termite mounds, originating from areas previously used for pasture, fallow land, or perennial crops. Concentrated gaps may also appear on or near the termite mounds.<\/p>\n

The presence of termite mounds, however, does not necessarily mean economic loss. The main point is to identify whether the insects are effectively reducing the stand or attacking young plants to the point of compromising the crop's productive potential.<\/p>\n

Procornitermes triacifer builds mounds of hardened soil on the surface, which can range from a few centimeters to more than 40 centimeters in height, depending on the age of the colony and its management history.<\/p>\n

The colonies tend to establish themselves in well-drained soils with periods of lower surface moisture. Therefore, their incidence may be higher on the edges of rice paddies, in the higher parts of the fields, and in areas with less efficient irrigation.<\/p>\n

The damage occurs mainly in two ways. Termites can consume newly sown seeds and attack the underground part of seedlings, especially between germination and the beginning of tillering.<\/p>\n

This attack can prevent emergence or cause small plants to topple over and die.<\/p>\n

The termite mound itself also interferes with crop establishment. The mound acts as an area of hardened soil, hindering uniform sowing and potentially harming irrigation and mechanized operations.<\/p>\n

In practice, much of the economic loss is related to the reduction of the initial stand in patches. The remaining plants are not always able to fully compensate for the absence of their neighbors, especially in cultivars with lower tillering capacity or in very dense crops.<\/p>\n

To decide on control measures, the main concept is the economic damage threshold (EDT). This represents the intensity of damage or the pest density at which the expected financial loss exceeds the cost of control.<\/p>\n

In the case of termites in rice, there is no single, universal value for the NDE (Natural Development Index). The decision depends on the cultivation system, the cultivar's compensatory capacity, input costs, the value of the rice, and the farm's level of technological advancement.<\/p>\n

Factors such as the possibility of replanting, the precision of sowing, and the efficiency of irrigation should also be considered.<\/p>\n

In general, the problem becomes more economically significant when the combination of termite mound density and stand failures exceeds the compensatory capacity of the remaining plants.<\/p>\n

To make this assessment, the producer can divide the crop into homogeneous areas, considering characteristics such as soil type, area history, and irrigation management.<\/p>\n

In each area, 10 to 20 sampling points should be established, distributed randomly or in a zigzag pattern. A standard square or rectangle, such as an area of 1 square meter, can be used for the assessments.<\/p>\n

At each point, it is necessary to count the rice plants, check for the presence of termite mounds within the evaluated area or immediately next to the rows, and identify stand failures related to termites.<\/p>\n

It is also important to look for evidence of the attack, such as damaged seeds or seedlings, burrows, and disturbed soil near the seeds.<\/p>\n

The observed plant stand should be compared with the population planned in the sowing project and with the germination rate of the batch used. From this comparison, it is possible to estimate the deviation from the expected stand.<\/p>\n

Reductions of less than 10% in stand failure on average across the area tend to show a greater possibility of compensation through tillering, especially in cultivars adapted to irrigated systems.<\/p>\n

When faults fall between 10% and 20% and are concentrated in localized patches, targeted actions, such as the manual destruction of edge mounds or small blocks, can be considered before any broader measures are taken.<\/p>\n

Reductions exceeding 20% or 25% in stand failure, when clearly associated with termites and distributed over wide areas, indicate a higher risk of yield loss and may justify intervention.<\/p>\n

In extreme situations, replanting may also be considered.<\/p>\n

The stage of the crop is another decisive factor. The period between pre-emergence and two or three leaves is the most sensitive, because damage that causes significant failures at this stage has less chance of being compensated for.<\/p>\n

In the early stages or during full tillering, if the initial stand is adequate, moderate attacks tend to have less potential to cause significant losses, since the remaining plants can still increase the number of productive tillers.\n<\/p>\n

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After the rice has been elongated, the risk of economic damage to new plants decreases considerably because the rice is already established. Even so, large mounds can hinder operations and mechanized harvesting.<\/p>\n

Even when faced with a diagnosis of significant damage, the cost of control needs to be compared with the estimated loss of productivity.<\/p>\n

The evaluation should consider the product price, application, machine time, potential effects on microbiota and natural enemies, and other consequences for the production system.<\/p>\n

In many cases, mechanical measures can reduce the problem without the need for specific chemical applications. Alternatives include leveling or mechanically destroying higher mounds during area preparation and spot repairs along the edges with a higher concentration of termite mounds.<\/p>\n

Any chemical application must comply with the registration recommendations for the crop and pest, as well as the guidelines on the label, package insert, and agronomic prescription.<\/p>\n

Preventive management also begins with site preparation. Leveling and harrowing operations, when used properly, can mechanically destroy large mounds and expose colonies to light and dehydration.<\/p>\n

These operations can also reduce the number of active nests in the topsoil, especially in areas recently converted from pasture.<\/p>\n

However, care must be taken to avoid excessive soil disturbance in environments where preserving the structure and controlling erosion are priorities.<\/p>\n

In minimum or no-till planting systems, the destruction of mounds can be done in a localized manner, prioritizing planting rows and borders.<\/p>\n

The quality of sowing also affects the crop's ability to withstand sporadic attacks. Seeds with high germination and vigor, uniform depth, good soil cover, and adequate moisture promote a more vigorous initial stand.<\/p>\n

More robust seedlings tend to have a greater capacity to overcome localized damage to the roots and collar.<\/p>\n

In irrigated rice cultivation, water management is also part of the strategy. Maintaining the water level at the appropriate stage can reduce termite activity in areas that remain saturated, since the insects find more favorable conditions in less saturated soils.<\/p>\n

In rainfed areas or in parts of the farmland that receive less water, such as high points in the terrain and places with uneven terrain, conditions can favor termite activity.<\/p>\n

Therefore, proper leveling, adequate management of the embankments and water inlets, and attention to dry edges are important to reduce the risk.<\/p>\n

Monitoring should continue throughout the cycle. Inspections are especially important before site preparation, immediately after emergence, and at the start of tillering.<\/p>\n

This monitoring allows for the identification of areas with a higher concentration of termite mounds, tracking the evolution of the problem, and adjusting strategies for subsequent harvests.<\/p>\n

Not all termite mounds require control. Isolated and old mounds, without gaps in the stand or recent signs of attack on the seedlings, can be monitored without immediate intervention.<\/p>\n

The same logic applies to areas where the rice has already reached full tillering, has an adequate stand, and has little damage associated with termites.<\/p>\n

Plots with total stand loss of less than 10%, randomly distributed and without a clear association with the presence of the pest, also tend to have a lower need for control.<\/p>\n

Another factor is the cost of the intervention. If chemical or mechanical control is more expensive than the expected loss of productivity, the intervention may not be economically justifiable.<\/p>\n

In these situations, the strategy can be focused on medium-term preventive measures, such as soil management, crop rotation, and irrigation adjustments.<\/p>\n

Between September and March, when land preparation, sowing, emergence, tillering, and much of the vegetative development of rice are concentrated, monitoring allows for the anticipation of problems.<\/p>\n

The decision to control termites should consider not only the number of insects or termite mounds, but primarily the impact on the stand and productive potential.<\/p>\n

Before opting for control of Procornitermes triacifer, the producer must verify if the failures exceed 20% or 25% and are clearly associated with termites, if the damage occurred during the critical phase of crop establishment, and if the cultivar has low compensatory capacity.\n<\/p>\n

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It is also necessary to assess whether there are extensive affected areas, compare the cost of control with the expected loss, and consider mechanical and irrigation management alternatives.<\/p>\n

If most of these factors are present, the likelihood of economic damage and the need for intervention increases. Otherwise, prevention and management adjustments may be more appropriate.<\/p>\n

Any chemical control strategy must follow the official registration recommendations for the crop and target pest, the label and package insert guidelines, and the agronomic prescription issued by a qualified professional.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

THE MM Cereais<\/strong> It works with the best rice grains on the market and also keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and analysis about agribusiness.
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Os cupins no arroz podem provocar falhas de estande e comprometer a produtividade, principalmente em…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27640,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[244,248,255,249,254,250,246,247,256,245,253,252,251],"class_list":["post-27639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arroz","tag-agrolink","tag-agrotoxicos","tag-artigos-tecnicos","tag-classificados","tag-colunistas","tag-compra","tag-cotacoes","tag-defensivos","tag-eventos","tag-noticias","tag-precos-agricolas","tag-previsao-do-tempo","tag-venda"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}