Tag Archives: headworm

Headworms, Stink Bugs and Sugarcane Aphids in Grain Sorghum

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We have been finding Rice Stink Bugs, Headworms and Sugarcane Aphids in Sorghum fields  of the Mid-Coast of Texas. Scout sorghum using a 2-gallon bucket and beat heads into the bucket and see what is being captured in the bucket. Look here for a brief video. Economic thresholds for stink bugs and headworms depend on the cost of control, expected crop value, and sorghum heads per acre. Look here for an economic thresholds calculator. I am using an economic threshold of 0.5 – 1 stink bug per head,… Read More →

Stink Bugs and Headworms in Grain Sorghum

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Some sorghum fields across the Mid-Coast of Texas have been inundated with Rice Stink Bugs or Headworms; or in some cases, both stink bugs and headworms. Adding to this problem, I have received several reports of pyrethroid insecticides failing to control rice stink bugs. Scout sorghum using a 2-gallon bucket and beat heads into the bucket and see what is being captured in the bucket. Look here for a brief video. Economic thresholds for stink bugs and headworms depend on the cost of control, expected crop value, and… Read More →

End of Season Pest Management Decision Making

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Corn and Grain Sorghum harvest has begun on the Mid-Coast of Texas. Early yield reports are above average. While many Sorghum fields are no longer susceptible to the yield reducing impacts of insects, we must not forget the later fields. Stink bugs and headworms can impact sorghum yield and quality losses until hard dough or when the grain cannot be compressed between the fingers. Sugarcane aphids have been relatively low across the mid-coast this year with less than 30% of fields requiring treatment. Don’t forget these aphids after hard… Read More →

Mid Coast Grain Sorghum Update

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Grain Sorghum maturity ranges from milk to near harvest.  Some fields may have already been harvested.  The primary insect pests in post bloom sorghum is stink bugs, headworms and aphids. Stink bugs and headworms can cause economic losses until hard dough.  Once the seed is at hard dough, these pests are no longer an issue. The economic threshold for headworms ranges from 0.15 to 1 large worm (> 0.5 inch) per head.  For medium worms (0.25-0.5 inch) the ET ranges 0.8 to 2 per head.  The threshold for… Read More →

Mid-Coast Grain Sorghum IPM Update

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Grain sorghum in the Mid-Coast of Texas ranges from Milk to hard dough.  Harvest is just around the corner for some fields.  This was noticeable by seeing combines and headers out of the barns getting ready for use. We are finding light numbers of stink bugs and headworms in fields across the mid-coast.  Continue to check fields weekly for these pests. One question asked of me this past week involved how to manage stink bugs or headworms in fields with light sugarcane aphids.  My suggestion is not to… Read More →