The panicle mite Steneotarsonemus spinki has emerged as an economically important but often overlooked pest of rice, posing a serious threat to crop productivity in different ricegrowing regions In India. Owing to its minute size and cryptic habit of colonizing the leaf sheath and developing panicles, infestations frequently remain undetected until significant damage has occurred. Feeding by the mite disrupts panicle emergence and grain development, leading to symptoms such as spikelet sterility, grain discoloration, chaffy grains and overall yield reduction. The pest is also known to aggravate grain quality deterioration through its association with various fungal pathogens and bacteria, further compounding economic losses. Here, this article highlights the growing importance of S. spinki as a constraint to sustainable rice production and underscores the adoption of suitable integrated management approaches.