Yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a major monophagous insect pest of rice, causes significant yield losses. The rice–YSB interaction is very dynamic, making it difficult for management. The development of resistant lines has been unsuccessful as there are no effective resistant sources in the germplasm. Genome information is necessary for a better understanding of interaction with rice in terms of its recognition, response, and infestation mechanism. The draft genome of YSB is predicted to have 46,057 genes with an estimated size of 308 Mb, being correlated with the flow cytometry analysis. The existence of complex metabolic mechanisms and genes related to specific behavior was identified, being conditioned by a higher level of regulation. We deciphered the possible visual, olfactory, and gustatory mechanisms responsible for its evolution as a monophagous pest. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that YSB is unique in the way it has evolved. The obvious presence of high-immunity-related genes, well-developed RNAi machinery, and diverse effectors provides a means for developing genomic tools for its management. The identified 21,696 SSR markers can be utilized for diversity analysis of populations across the rice-growing regions. We present the first draft genome of YSB. The information emanated paves a way for biologists to design novel pest management strategies as well as for the industry to design new classes of safer and specific insecticide molecules.

Diafenthiuron, 1-tert-butyl-3-(2,6-diisopropyl-4-phenoxyphenyl) thiourea, a broad spectrum insecticide cum acaricide belonging to thiourea group, has been found effective in managing sucking pests and mites. The persistence pattern of its Polo 50% WP on cabbage following three applications at 300 and 600 g a.i. ha⁻¹ at an interval of 10 d, is reported. Residues were estimated by HPLC and confirmed by LC-MS-MS. The average initial deposits were 0.60 and 1.27 mg kg⁻¹ on the cabbage heads following its third application at single and double the recommended dosages, respectively. Half-life periods were found to be 1.88 and 2.15 d at the two application rates, respectively. The residues reduced to below its limit of quantification of 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ after 7 and 10 d, at the single and the double dosages respectively.