The agricultural encroachments were mostly rice paddies. The fish can be found in standing waters of canals, rice paddies and floodplains. Wetlands have been converted to rice paddies and urban sprawl. Sickles were used for harvesting mature rice paddies. Villages and their rice paddies are still a common sight. Water puppetry originated in the rice paddies here. Houses of farmers were situated near the rice paddies on the edge of the cities. Some grasshopper species, like the Chinese rice grasshopper, are a pest in rice paddies. They created basins, which are suitable for agricultural uses, like rice paddies and bean farms. A majority of the species' wetland habitats were destroyed to construct rice paddies and dams. A few examples of biogenic sources include photosynthesis, animal excrements, termites, rice paddies, and wetlands. Monsoon rains, though, impeded initial efforts to fill the rice paddies and begin airfield construction. Madurai was traditionally an agrarian society, with rice paddies as the main crop. The landing zone was a large, open area of rice paddies surrounded by tree lines. Jacobs made repeated trips across the fire-swept open rice paddies evacuating wounded and their weapons.