A field investigation on the incidence of yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas Walker, on rice under different methods of crop establishment was carried out on five varieties, GR-11, NAUR-1, GNR-3, GNR-26 and GNR-8, during kharif 2025 at the College Farm, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. Dead heart and moth catch commenced at 21 DAT/S and peaked at 49 DAT/S, direct seeded rice (DSR) recording significantly higher dead heart and moth catch than transplanted rice (TPR) at every stage, working out to nearly 1.3 to 1.4 times that of TPR at the peak. NAUR-1 was ranked the most tolerant variety and GR-11 the most susceptible, based on the combined performance of dead heart, white ear head and moth catch. Spider and coccinellid populations were unaffected by method of crop establishment or variety. Transplanted rice recorded significantly higher grain yield than direct seeded rice in every variety, whereas the benefit-cost ratio was considerably higher under DSR (2.14 to 2.95) than under TPR (1.62 to 2.16), owing to the saving in cost of cultivation. NAUR-1 secured the first rank on the basis of combined yield and economic performance, followed by GNR-3, GNR-26 and GNR-8, with GR-11 ranking last.