Sorghum shoot fly

Ehtisham Ali Hussain
University College Of Agriculture,
University Of Sargodha, Sargodha
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1. Insect pest of sorghum (Sorghum shoot fly) Ehtisham Ali Hussain BAGF15E258 University College Of Agriculture, University Of Sargodha

2. CONTENTS Introduction of sorghum Taxanomy (sorghum shoot fly) Identification Host plants , status of pest Life cycle Seasonal occurrence Economic importance Symptoms /signs Mode of Damages Control (Cultural , chemical , biological) New research

3. SORGHUM Family : Graminae Locally known as ( Jawar ) and is grown as a fodder crop in Pakistan. It is multi- use cereal ;contain grains , forage and sweet types. Sowing time ( from 3 rd week of march to mid-September ) Sorghum is the worlds fifth most important cereal crop after maize , rice, wheat and barley. Pakistan produce 50-70 (t/ha) sorghum as a fodder.

4. TAXANOMY (SORGHUM SHOOT FLY ) ( Atherigona soccata) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum : Arthropda Class : Insecta Order : Diptera Family : Duscidae Genus : Atherigona Specie : soccata

5. Identification Eggs are white in colour . Eggs are laid on the under side. of leaves of 7 to 8 days of seedlings or on young tillers. one to three eggs are laid per leaf. The white eggs have an elongate shape

6. Larva the young larvae crawl down inside the sheath base of young shoot ,killing the growing point and youngest leaf. The full grown (third instar ) larvae is 8 to 10mm long and has a yellowish colour.

7. Pupa usually takes place in the base of dead shoot , but sometimes in the soil. The pupal period takes place about 7 days.

8. Adult fly is about 4mm long. It looks like a small house fly . Head and thorax of the female are pale grey . The abdomen is yellowish with paired brown patches. The male is more blackish

9. Host plants Major host : sorghum Alternative host : rice , maize , millet wheat Pest status : major pest of sorghum

10. Life cycle The female places its eggs singly on the lower surface of leaf blades. A life cycle (egg to adult) may take 3-6 weeks Annually the pest can complete up to 10 generations.

11. Seasonal occurrence The insects attack at the seedling and late sown crops are attacked badly. the shoot fly population begins to increase in July , peak in august- September. Cloudy weather favors multiplication of the insects.

12. Economic importance Sorghum shoot fly is considered to be one of the most important and destructive pests. Plants are attacked at the seedling stage. Feeding on plants growing point may kill the central stem, causing (dead heart). This symptom of infestation appear within 2-3 days after attack. While insect cause 12% loss in sorghum production…shoot fly is responsible for 5%.

13. Symptoms Growing point / stems – dead heart Growing point / stems –internal feeding , boring Growing point / stems - odour

14. Control CULTURAL CONTROL Early sowing Use resistant varieties when available Transplanting Inter-cultivation /weeding Crop rotation /cropping system Field sanitation and tillage

15. Biological control A number of natural enemies have been recorded on sorghum shoot fly Abrolophus sp. Trichogramma sp. Trichogrammatoidea sp.

16. Chemical control carbofuran 3 G OR PHORATE 10g at 20 kg/ha seed furrows Sorghum treated seeds ( systemic insecticide) seed feeding and seedling insect pest

17. Thank you!!