Tag Archives: Sugarcane aphid

Sorghum Midge and Sugarcane Aphids

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Grain sorghum across Refugio, Calhoun and Victoria Counties ranges from 4-5 leaf to bloom.  The two primary insects of concern this week for grain sorghum in the Mid-Coast of Texas are Sorghum Midge and Sugarcane Aphids. The Sugarcane Aphid can be found in Johnsongrass adjacent to sorghum fields, so the aphids may jump into the sorghum soon. Begin inspecting field margins and areas of the field with Johnsongrass present. Fields beginning to bloom should be inspected for Sorghum Midge. Begin scouting for midge soon after head emergence when… Read More →

Midge in Grain Sorghum

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Grain sorghum fields range in maturity from nearing bloom to soft dough and all of these fields need to be scouted frequently. Blooming sorghum is susceptible to sorghum midge and field scouts are finding more midge in the fields this week. Scout sorghum fields 2-3 times per week until past bloom. Start by scouting fields on the south side (downwind) as the midge is a poor flyer and will be found on the field margins first. When you are finding them on field margins, move 150-200 feet into… Read More →

Fall Armyworms in Sorghum

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Fall armyworms are being found in sorghum fields across the area this week.  While the feeding can be alarming, I have yet to find a field in need of treatment. Insecticide application may be justified if larval feeding reduces leaf area by more than 30 percent or is damaging the developing grain head or growing point within the whorl. The fields where I have found the armyworms had less than 5% infested plants and the feeding damage was below the economic threshold. Often, I was finding two or… Read More →

Pest Update and 2020 Insect Thresholds

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This week we have been finding low numbers on insect pests in cotton, grain sorghum and soybeans. Cotton ranges from 1/3 grown square to mid-bloom. While most fields are below threshold, we have found a few fields with 30-40 cotton fleahoppers per 100 plants. Continue to monitor for cotton fleahoppers until bloom and treat when they exceed an economic threshold of 15 per 100 plants. Blooming cotton has had significant bollworm moth flights this week but so far, egg numbers have been low. Bollworms are important pests and should… Read More →

Sugarcane Aphids Found in Sorghum

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Grain sorghum fields in the Mid-Coast vary in maturity from soft/hard dough to pre-bloom. These fields should be scouted weekly for insect pests. Today, we found sugarcane aphids in fields near Bayside. While these fields are not at a level needing treatment, the population should be monitored twice weekly to ensure they don’t get out of hand. Sugarcane aphids can cause grain yield losses until a few weeks prior to harvest, but the crop is more sensitive to the aphids earlier in the season. As the sorghum grain… Read More →