[1] It is a widespread species, known from Iran,[2] India, Sri Lanka, China, eastern Asia, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia to the Pacific.

They are largely responsible for the great reduction in the rice growing in East Asia, India and Indonesia.

Forewings with somewhat acute apex which is ochreous, wholly suffused with brown except a patch in cell and a streak below medial nervure.

[5] Apart from the major food plant, rice, larvae also feed on wide array of plants such as Gigantochloa verticellata, Echinochloa crusgalli cruspavonis, Echinochloa stagnina, Eleusine indica, Panicum sp., Paspalum conjugatum, Amaranthus sp., Phragmites australis, Raphanus raphanistrum, Sclerostachya fusca, Sorghum sp., Typha latifolia, Xanthium strumarium, and Zizania aquatica.

Heavily attacked plants can show varying symptoms from dead heart, white heads, dwarfing, stunting, rot, abnormal forms, and rosetting.

Many traditional and agricultural practices like flooding and harrowing or ploughing to turn in stubble and straw are effective to prevent pests in the next growing season.

The use of early-maturing varieties and at harvest, planting synchronization and stem removal close to ground is managed.

[8] Biologically, they can easily removed by usage of tachinid Paratheresia claripalpis, which is extensively practiced in Malaysia.