{"id":27894,"date":"2026-09-16T19:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T23:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/2026\/arroz\/gorgulho-do-arroz-ataque-nas-raizes-ameaca-produtividade\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T19:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T23:00:10","slug":"gorgulho-do-arroz-ataque-nas-raizes-ameaca-produtividade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/2026\/arroz\/gorgulho-do-arroz-ataque-nas-raizes-ameaca-produtividade\/","title":{"rendered":"Rice weevil: root attack threatens productivity."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.agrolink.com.br\/upload\/imagens-resizes\/195db8c90e5d4717906bd75013332687_858x483.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"section-description section-description-noticias mt-3\">\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The aquatic weevil of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agrolink.com.br\/culturas\/arroz\/?utm_source=agrolink-detalhe-noticia&amp;utm_medium=detalhe-noticia&amp;utm_campaign=links-internos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rice<\/a> (Oryzophagus oryzae) is an important pest in irrigated rice, mainly between September and December, during emergence and tillering. The larvae attack the roots, which can reduce the stand, weaken the plants and compromise the crop&#039;s productive potential.\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"agk_14000_pos_3_sidebar_mobile\" style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"agk_14000_pos_4_conteudo_desktop\" style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"d-none d-lg-block mb-md-4\">\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">In irrigated areas, the presence of a continuous water layer favors the insect&#039;s life cycle. Repeated cultivation of irrigated rice without crop rotation can also contribute to the maintenance of the pest in production areas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The period between September and December requires attention because it corresponds to sowing and crop establishment. When larvae attack the roots during this phase, gaps in the plant stand, unevenness, and reduced productivity can occur.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">One of the challenges in identifying the problem is that the main damage occurs below the soil surface and under the water table. Therefore, observing only the aerial parts of the plants may not be enough to detect the infestation in its early stages.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The aquatic weevil is a beetle of the family Curculionidae adapted to flooded environments. Adults are small, generally dark, with coloration ranging from brown to almost black, an elongated body, and a rostrum, a characteristic structure of weevils.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Adults live in association with the water&#039;s surface and feed on the aerial tissues of rice plants. Females lay their eggs in plant tissues, often near the water level or slightly submerged.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">After hatching, the larvae migrate to the root collar and root system. It is during this phase that the most significant damage occurs, as they feed intensively on the root system.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The larvae are apodous, meaning they have no legs. They have a creamy-white body, curved in a &quot;C&quot; shape, a darker head, and visible mandibles. They remain in waterlogged soil, near or attached to the roots.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">In severe infestations, the larvae can be found in groups, attached to the roots or near small galleries and cavities in the saturated soil. To identify them, it is necessary to carefully remove the plants, along with a clod of soil.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Washing the roots in a bucket or container with clean water makes it easier to see the larvae. The procedure also allows you to estimate the presence of the insect per plant or per area.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">In the field, the first signs can be mistaken for germination problems or nutritional deficiencies. Symptoms include poor plant stand, irregular clearings, reduced growth of new plants, and lighter coloration.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Plants affected by the disease may also exhibit weak tillers and be easily uprooted due to a reduced root system. In severe infestations, seedling death and the formation of patches of permanent tree failure may occur.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Comparing healthy and suspected plants helps identify the problem. In affected plants, the roots tend to be smaller, with necrotic or partially consumed tips, and are shorter and less branched.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The presence of the larvae themselves on the roots or near the base of the plants is also an important indicator to differentiate this infestation from other crop problems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The main impact of the aquatic weevil is the loss of effective plant stand and unevenness in the crop. Even when some plants survive, the reduced root system can affect tillering, plant height, grain filling, and tolerance to stress situations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">A reduction in plant population and tillering can decrease the number of panicles per square meter. Uneven maturation can also hinder harvesting and increase losses associated with the presence of green or broken grains.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The clearings left by the attack can still favor the development of weeds, increasing the need for weed control. In heavily affected areas, there may also be increased costs for replanting and corrective measures.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The intensity of losses depends on the crop stage at the time of the attack, the initial plant population, and the preventive practices adopted. A crop with good seed quality, proper sowing, and correct water management tends to show less impact even in areas with a history of the pest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The decision regarding management should consider the history of each area, the stage of rice development, and the level of infestation. Systematic monitoring is necessary because there is no single rule applicable to all crops.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Plots with a history of stand failures and symptoms of root attack are more likely to experience the insect in subsequent crops. The period between germination and the beginning of tillering is especially sensitive, as early attacks can cause greater losses.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Water surface conditions also need to be monitored. Early and prolonged maintenance of continuous water soon after sowing favors the insect&#039;s life cycle, while adjustments to irrigation management can reduce the risk in certain situations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Monitoring the roots should be part of the routine inspection. Sampling points can be distributed throughout the plot, including borders and locations with a history of higher occurrence.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">At each point, five to ten plants with their root balls can be pulled up. Then, the roots should be gently washed in clean water to check for the presence of larvae, estimate their quantity, and assess the extent of the damage.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Recording information by date and location allows for monitoring the evolution of the infestation. With this data, producers and technicians can verify if the problem is increasing, concentrated in certain areas, or remaining at low levels.\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"agk_14000_pos_4_conteudo_mobile\" style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"agk_14000_pos_5_conteudo_desktop\" style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"d-none d-lg-block mb-md-4\">\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The management of the aquatic weevil should combine different strategies. These include cultural practices, the rational use of water, the management of crop residues, crop rotation and, when necessary, chemical control in accordance with current regulations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Planning the planting season can take into account periods of lower pest pressure, according to the history of the region and the property. Seed quality, seeder settings, and uniform planting depth also contribute to the formation of a more vigorous initial stand.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Irrigation management is another point of attention. Avoiding the premature establishment of a permanent water layer after sowing can reduce conditions favorable to pest development in certain systems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">In specific situations, temporary removal of the blade may also be considered under technical guidance. However, this measure needs to be evaluated to avoid harming the rice&#039;s development.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Crop residues must also be managed. Large quantities of plant material in water or waterlogged soil can provide shelter for survival forms of the pest.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Leveling the area allows for greater uniformity in water management and reduces the formation of deeper spots. Cleaning channels and edges also helps prevent the accumulation of plant debris, organic matter, and spontaneous vegetation that can serve as breeding grounds for adult fish.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Crop rotation can help interrupt the life cycle of the rice water weevil. The continuous repetition of irrigated rice after irrigated rice favors the maintenance and increase of insect populations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">When the production system allows, crop rotation with crops adapted to different moisture and management conditions reduces the availability of host plants. This decision should consider the economic conditions of the farm, the availability of machinery, and the market for alternative crops.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Chemical control should be used as a complement to other strategies, and not as the sole form of management. The choice of product, the timing of application, and the method of use must consider the specific registration for irrigated rice and for Oryzophagus oryzae.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Official research and extension recommendations and prescriptions from qualified professionals, issued through an agronomic prescription, must also be followed.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Products not registered for the crop and the pest should not be used. It is also necessary to avoid doses or mixtures not recommended on the label and package insert, due to the risks of poisoning, environmental contamination, and selection of resistant populations.\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"agk_14000_pos_5_conteudo_mobile\" style=\"text-align: center;\" class=\"mb-4\">\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The management of the aquatic weevil must still be integrated with other farming practices. Reducing gaps in the plant stand decreases the possibility of weed establishment, while well-nourished plants tend to exhibit greater root vigor and a better ability to tolerate moderate levels of infestation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Choosing cultivars with good initial vigor and adaptability to the irrigation system can also be part of the strategy. Monitoring the weevil should be integrated with monitoring other pests, allowing for joint decisions on the use of inputs.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Any intervention with chemical products must comply with current legislation, including the correct use of personal protective equipment, and the dosages and safety intervals indicated on the label and package insert.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The recommendation of plant protection products must be made by a qualified agricultural engineer, through an agronomic prescription. This procedure contributes to the agronomic and economic safety of the operation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">Monitoring should begin before the problems become established. Checking the history of each plot, monitoring the crop during establishment, and inspecting the roots are measures that allow for the early identification of the presence of the aquatic weevil.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">The combination of proper sowing, irrigation management, crop residue control, crop rotation, and monitoring can reduce the risks associated with the pest. When necessary, chemical control should complement these actions and strictly follow technical recommendations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\">This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace the assessment of an agricultural engineer under real field conditions.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h6><em>THE <strong>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.<br \/>\nDon&#039;t forget to follow our social networks.<\/em><\/h6>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agrolink.com.br\/noticias\/gorgulho-do-arroz--ataque-nas-raizes-ameaca-produtividade_518924.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Access News Source <\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>O gorgulho aqu\u00e1tico do arroz (Oryzophagus oryzae) \u00e9 uma praga de import\u00e2ncia no arroz irrigado,&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27585,"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-27894","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\/27894","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=27894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mmcereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}