Shoot Fly Management in Sorghum: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

Atherigona soccata, the Sorghum Shoot fly, attacks the heads of sorghum stalks before they flower. It is native to most of the globe but especially harmful in sorghum-growing regions. The pest is mostly found in southern states and can cause substantial grain production losses.

Adult Sorghum Shoot flies are orange-brown with wingspans of 6-14 mm. It lays eggs in leaves, stems, and Flowers and feeds on sorghum stalk sap. Sorghum Shoot fly larvae eat the foliage and harm crops. The pest can stunt young plants, lower yields, or even destroy the crop if left unchecked. Chemical insecticides, biological control agents, and crop rotation manage insects.

Shoot Fly Management in Sorghum

Life Cycle of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Sorghum shoot flies start their life cycle when the adult female rises from the soil and lays eggs in the plant’s whorl. After the eggs, the hatch and the larvae eat plant tissues.
The larvae feed on plant tissues, sap, and nutrients for two to three weeks before maturing, stunting growth and output. They pupate in the dirt.
After a few weeks, the adult emerges from the dirt, restarting the cycle. Adult shoot flies are tiny black flies with yellowish-orange heads and legs.
Plant juice and pollen fuel the adults’ daytime activity. Adults are active at night, while larvae are busy during the day. The lifecycle is 17-21 days.

Occurrence of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Location of Sorghum Shoot fly: The pest mainly occurs in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka in India and is observed worldwide.
Host Range: The pest can cause an infestation in maize, ragi, bajra, rice, wheat, and some grasses.

Factors Favoring Population Increase in Sorghum Shoot Fly in Field

Weather – Extreme heat and humidity help this bug grow and reproduce. Shoot flies develop rapidly and lay their eggs in crops in high temperatures and humidity.
Plant Health – Healthy plants fight this pest, providing more nutrition for shoot fly larvae that attract pests.
Poor Soil Fertility—Nutrient shortage in the crop makes it more susceptible to infestation.
Rotating the crop prevents the pest from establishing itself because it needs its host crop to live.
Natural Enemies — Predators and parasites control pest populations, lowering damage.
Early planting gives the pest time to grow and lay eggs before the crop matures, increasing its chances of survival.

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Identification of Sorghum Shoot Fly in Sorghum Field

Egg: Sorghum leaves lay 0.2-0.3mm eggs separately on the underside. They are cylindrical, white, and pointy.
Larva: Sorghum larvae eat leaves and stalks, reducing crop output. Yellowish-green with black dots, they are 10mm long. They have four legs and a head. Four larvae instars.
Pupa: Since larvae no longer feed, sorghum trees are less damaged. The pupae are 5mm white and found near the sorghum stalks.
Adult: Adults are 8mm and dark with red spots on the abdomen. Adults lay eggs on sorghum leaves and stem and eat on flower nectar.

Damage Symptoms of Sorghum Shoot Fly in Sorghum Field

Sorghum shoot fly larvae feed on the sap in the plant’s stems, weakening them and causing them to lodge or break.
Larvae are near the plant’s roots. The sorghum plant’s leaves and roots have adult shoot flies.
“Dead heart” symptoms come from maggot larvae cutting the stem’s growing point.
The larvae’s “window-pane” design on the plant’s head indicates sorghum shoot fly infestation.
Young plants are most damaged. The larvae eat on plant growth points, stunting seedling growth. Seedlings may have wilted or dead leaves and bent curled, discolored stems. Infestations can kill plants. Root rot from shoot fly larvae reduces plant water and food absorption. Damage can wilt and kill plants.
In adult plants, shoot fly larvae eat on developing heads, causing deformities and lower yields. Discolored heads may have holes or absent kernels. The shrub may have smaller heads and tillers.

Percentage of Yield Lose in Sorghum Due to Sorghum Shoot Fly

The yield loss in the Sorghum crop due to Sorghum Shoot fly Pest infestation can be significant, and depending on the severity of the infestation, the yield loss can range from 10 to 50 percent. The attack is more severe during summer than in the rainy season. Economic Threshold Level is 10% dead hearts or one egg/plant.

Cultural Control of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Resistant Varieties – Co-1, CSH 15R, Maldandi and Hagari, M35-1, Swati, SPV 491, IS – 18551, 5566, 5285, 5613, ICSV 700, ICSV 705, Phule Yashoda, CSH 7, CSH 8.
Sowing Time – Sow the seeds immediately at the beginning of monsoon rains.
Thinning – Remove and destroy plants exhibiting dead heart symptoms during thinning.
Seed Rate – Practice the application of a higher seed rate of 12.5 kg/ha and remove damaged seedlings at the time of thinning or practice transplanting.
Trap – Employ a hanging plastic fishmeal trap of at least 12/ha until the crop is 30 days old.

Biological Control of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Natural predators include ladybugs, lacewings, and predatory mites. All these predators feed on the larvae and adult stages of the pest. Ladybugs and lacewings are particularly effective as they can consume large numbers of pest in a short period.
Parasites, such as parasitoid wasps, lay their eggs inside the larvae of the pest, and the eggs hatch into larvae that feed on the pest, eventually killing it.

Chemical Control of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Seed Treatment – Treat the seeds with chlorpyriphos 20 EC 400 ml or quinalphos 25 EC 400 ml or imidacloprid 48 FS 1.2 L or imidacloprid 70 WS 1.0 kg or thiamethoxam 30 FS 1.0 L for every 100kg seed.
Soil Treatment – Apply phorate 10 G or carbofuran 3 G in the furrow while sowing at 2.5 kg a.i./ha in granules.
Spray Application – Spray endosulfan 35 EC @18 ml, dimethoate 30 EC @ 12 ml, and methyl demeton 25 EC @12 ml for an area of 120 m2 nursery. Spray endosulfan 35 EC 500 ml, dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml (250 L of spray fluid/ha) in the main crop field

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Preventive Measures for Control of Sorghum Shoot Fly

Proper irrigation, weeding, and fertilization make crops less appealing to pests. This lowers pest infestation and damage.
Trap crops are planted with the main crop. A pest-attractive sorghum type can be a trap crop. The trap crop will draw pests, protecting the main crop.

Conclusion

The Sorghum shoot fly pest is a major pest of sorghum crops worldwide. Cultural, chemical, and biological methods can contain this pest. Use crop rotation, crop residue eradication, and intercropping. When pest populations are high, insecticides may harm the ecosystem. Parasitoids and predators can also be used. The pest needs integrated control.

Shoot Fly Management in Sorghum: Symptoms, Treatment, Chemical, Biological, Natural, and Organic Control

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