Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas): An obligate monophagous pest of rice belonging to Crambidae/Pyralidae.
Damage Symptoms:
Dead Heart: Neonate larvae bore into the central stem and sever the vascular bundles and apical growing point during the vegetative stage, causing the central tiller to dry up and pull out easily.
White Earhead (Whitehead): Damage caused during the flowering/reproductive stage, resulting in sterile, empty, upright white panicles.