Sugarcane Aphids Spreading Quickly In Sorghum
DR. SCOTT STEWART
JACKSON, TENN.
The sugarcane aphid has now been confirmed at low numbers in multiple counties in Lauderdale, Shelby, Hardin, Hardeman, Chester, and Henderson Counties. I’m sure they are present in all the southern counties bordering Mississippi. One difference this year is that those in the middle part of the state, especially in counties bordering Alabama and Georgia, need to be alert. Populations are on the increase. What does this mean!
• It does NOT mean to treat now. Aphids are present in low numbers in almost all the fields where they have been found. They are not present in most fields.
• Make sure you know how to tell sugarcane aphids from the corn leaf aphid (pictured below) and the yellow sugarcane aphid.
• Start looking and scout more frequently once aphids are found in your sorghum field.
• Make an insecticide application when 30-50 percent of plants have aphids present AND there are multiple spots in a field where 100 or more aphids are present on a leaf. ∆
DR. SCOTT STEWART: IPM Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee
Sugarcane aphid
This is corn leaf aphid – common but rarely requires treatment
Corn Leaf Aphid
Photo courtesy of Brian White