A new aphid pest has infested grain sorghum in South and East Texas, southern Oklahoma, eastern Mississippi, northeastern Mexico, and central, northeast, and southwest Louisiana. In 2013, large populations of sugarcane aphids (Melanaphis sacchari) developed on sorghum plants. They produced large amounts of honeydew, which choked combines and caused lost grain in northeast Texas and Louisiana. Growers lost up to 50 percent of grain sorghum yield in infested fields during 2013.
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Learn more about the Sugarcane Aphid:
- Sugarcane Aphid Scouting Guide with Images (pdf) (En Español)
- Sugarcane Aphid Basics
- More Sugarcane Aphid Training Videos
- Field Crop Pests Newsletter
Sugarcane Aphid News Blog:
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For specific questions about the Sugarcane Aphid, contact Dr. Robert Bowling, (361) 265-9201, Robert.Bowling@ag.tamu.edu