Stem borer in paddy

Symptoms of stem borer damage are deadhearts and whiteheads. These visible symptoms on affected plants vary with the growth stage at which plant infestation began. Rice plants from the seedling to maximum tillering stages that have been attacked at the base of the stem have deadhearts. Deadhearts are the dried up central shoots of tillers on the rice plant. Plants that have started bearing panicles when they were attacked usually produce whiteheads. Whiteheads are discolored panicles with empty or partially filled grains.