sorghum insects a lecture by mr allah dad khan

Sorghum Crop Insects A Presentation To IPM Course/FFS Participants

ByMr. Allah Dad Khan

Provincial Coordinator IPM KPK For MINFAL Pakistan

Symptom of damage: Dead Heart

The maggot bores inside the stem and cuts the growing point

Central shoots dried and produce “dead heart” symptom

The infested plant produces side tillers

Shootfly: Atherigona varia soccata

Red mining Side Tillers


Identification of the

pest:Egg: White, cylindrical, distal somewhat flattened

Adult: Whitish grey fly


Symptom of damage Dead Heart

Withering and drying of central shoot “dead heart”

Red mining in the midrib, bore holes visible on the stem near the nodes

Tender folded leaves have parallel “shot hole”

Stem borer: Chilo partellus

Holes on Nodes Shot Hole


Identification of the pest:Egg Eggs

: Scale-like flat oval eggs in batches on the under surface of leaves near the midribs

Larva: Yellowish brown with a brown head and prothoracic shield

Adult: Moth is medium size, straw coloured


Larva Pupa


Symptom of damage: Dead Heart

Central shoots dried and produce the dead hearts

Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens

Identification of the pest: Eggs

Egg: Bead like laid in rows within the leaf sheath

Larva: Pinkish brown with dark head

Adult: Straw coloured moth with white wing


Larva Pupa


AdultPink stem borer: Sesamia inferens

Symptom of damage:Earheads

are partially eaten with chalky appearance

Feacal pellets are visible within the ear heads

Ear Head caterpillar: Helicoverpa armigera

Identification of the pest: Eggs

Egg: Spherical in shape and creamy white in colour, laid singly

Larva: Shows colour variation from greenish to brown. It has dark brown grey lines on the body with lateral white lines

Pupa: Brown in colour, occurs in soil, leaf, pod and crop debris

Adult: Light pale brownish yellow stout moth. Forewings are olive green to pale brown with a dark brown circular spot in the centre. Hind wings are pale smoky white with a broad blackish outer margin


Larva Pupa


Symptom of damage:Plants

Stunted and toppled leaves

become unhealthy stunted and yellow

The leaves wither from top downwards

Honeydew secreted by the bug causes growth of sooty mould on leaves

Panicle formation is inhibited and the plants die if attack is severe

The midribs of the leaves turn red due to egg-laying and may dry up subsequently

Shoot bug: Peregrinus maidis


Midrib with egg layings

Identification of the pest: adults

Egg: Laid inside the leaf tissue and covered with a white waxy substance

Adult: Yellowish brown to dark brown with translucent wings


Symptom of damage: Chaffy Grains

Nymphs and adult suck the juice from within the grains when they are in the milky stage

Grains shrink and turn black in colour and ill filled (or) chaffy

Presence of large number of nymphs and adults are seen on the ear head

Sorghum midge: Contarinia sorghicola

Holes on Earhead Discoloured Grains


Identification of the pest:Egg Eggs

: Blue cigar shaped, laid under the glumes or into the middle of the florets

Nymphs: Slender, green in colour

Adults: Male is green in colour, female is green with a brown margin


Nymph Pupa



Adult

Symptom of damage: Stage of infection

Pollen shedding due to egg laying

White pupal cases protruding out from the grains

Chaffy grains with holes


Identification of the pest: Adult:

Fly is small, fragile with a bright orange abdomen and a pair of transparent wings


sorghum insects a lecture by mr allah dad khan

Education