{"id":1031,"date":"2015-06-01T13:18:56","date_gmt":"2015-06-01T17:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/?p=1031"},"modified":"2015-06-02T11:32:01","modified_gmt":"2015-06-02T15:32:01","slug":"pest-alert-sugarcane-aphid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/2015\/06\/pest-alert-sugarcane-aphid\/","title":{"rendered":"Pest Alert – Sugarcane Aphid"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sugarcane<\/a>Late summer 2014 – We can all remember the new invasive pest that occurred last year, the sugarcane aphid (SCA). \u00a0SCA infestations occurred in practically every sorghum field and in may cases resulted in production and economic losses. \u00a0Please be aware that the first documented appearance on sorghum was identified this past week in Brooks County. \u00a0I visited the field on Friday and received notice from Dr. David Buntin that this was the first confirmed finding of SCA on sorghum. \u00a0It is important that we begin scouting and actively managing sorghum fields for the sugarcane aphid. \u00a0SCA is difficult to manage cost effectively but planning and scouting are our best hope in managing this pest successfully and preventing losses.<\/p>\n

When infestations occur the population may be several hundred aphids per plant.<\/p>\n

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This population level can be detrimental to a sorghum field, as this fluid sucking insect can cause death of leaves and sometimes the entire plant.<\/p>\n

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The sugarcane aphid can be identified by the pale cream to yellow color with no bumps or tubercles on the body, but with black feet and black cornicles (small tubes located on the end of the abdomen). \u00a0A hand lens or microscope evaluation is most likely required to confirm physical characteristics and positive identification. \u00a0The sugarcane aphid will feed on the sorghum leaves and stem, resulting in reddish colored lesions\u00a0from the injury. \u00a0Dr. David Buntin, UGA grain crop entomologist, recommends the following management practices:<\/p>\n

1. Plant early<\/strong> – Early plantings may help avoid large infestations but the field I visited this past week was actually planted in March. \u00a0But, late double crop plantings are at a greater risk of severe infestations.<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Use an insecticide seed treatment<\/strong> – Trial work conducted in the Delta region last year found that insecticide seed treatments would limit seedling infestations for 30-40 days after planting. \u00a0All registered neonicotinoid insecticides are effective including; thiamethoxam (Cruiser), clothianidin (Nlpslt Inside, Poncho), and imidacloprid (Gaucho).<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Scout early and often<\/strong> – You can quickly scout for SCA by looking at the underside of sorghum leaves. \u00a0Once SCA has been detected, scout at least once per week. \u00a0Also, be aware of shiny lower leaves on the sorghum plant. \u00a0This appearance is indicative of deposits of honey dew and a clear sign of infestation.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Beneficial insects usually do not control infestations<\/strong> – A large number of beneficial insects (lady beetles, syrphid fly larvae, lacewings) are attracted to SCA and their honeydew. \u00a0However, the rapid rate of increase in aphid populations generally overwhelms the beneficial insects and severe plant damage occurs. \u00a0Also, no aphid fungal disease has been observed.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Treat when aphids reach threshold levels<\/strong> – There are several threshold levels beings used in different regions.<\/p>\n

One conservative threshold is 25% infested leaves with 50+ aphids per leaf at whorl from preboot stage through dough stage.<\/p>\n

Another threshold being utilized involves 20% infested plants at pre-boot and boot stages with large aphid colonies (100+) and localized areas of heavy honeydew present. \u00a0But, from bloom through dough stage the threshold is 30% infested plants.<\/p>\n

Dr. Buntin suggest using the threshold that is easiest for you to utilize and follow and that both methods will prevent serious yield losses. \u00a0But, please remember that once threshold levels are reached it is imperative that we do not delay insecticide applications. \u00a0Infestations of SCA can very quickly go from the threshold level to 100% infested plants and hundreds of aphids per leaf.<\/p>\n

6. \u00a0Use an effective insecticide<\/strong> – Pyrethroid insecticides are<\/strong> not effective<\/strong> and may flare infestations by killing all the aphid predators. \u00a0The following are foliar insecticide options for SCA:<\/p>\n

Transform WG<\/strong> – Transform WG is not yet fully registered, but Georgia has a section 18 emergency exception approved for 2015 until Nov. 20, 2015. \u00a0Dr. Buntin’s 2015 trials demonstrated that rates of 1.0 – 1.5 oz\/acre were effective. \u00a0Use the 1.5 oz rate if aphid populations are increasing rapidly. \u00a0The label allows for 2 applications per season and not more than 3 oz\/acre\/crop. \u00a0Please not the 14 day PHI for this product.<\/p>\n

Sivanto<\/strong> – Sivanto has a full section 3 label and a supplemental 2ee label for lower rates on sorghum and other grain crops. \u00a0The 2ee rates are 4-7 fl. oz\/acre. \u00a0The 4 oz. rate should be effective and at the 4 oz rate it can be applied up to 7 times during the season but has a 21 day PHI.<\/p>\n

Chlopyrifos<\/strong>\u00a0– Lorsban is labeled at 1 to 2 pints\/acre. \u00a0The 2 pint rate has a 60 day harvest interval 1 pint has a 30 day harvest interval. \u00a0The 2 pint rate cannot be used after the boot stage due to the 60 day PHI. \u00a0The 1 pint rate may be variably effective against SCA. \u00a0DO NOT USE CHLORPYRIFOS ON SWEET SORGHUM.<\/p>\n

7. \u00a0Good coverage is key to effective control<\/strong> – A minimum of 10 gallons per acre by ground and 5 gallons per acre by air.<\/p>\n

8. \u00a0Avoid pyrethroid insecticides for other sorghum pests<\/strong> – Try to avoid routine pyrethroid sprays for sorghum midge. \u00a0Instead scout and treat at 1 adult per panicle. \u00a0Use Chlorpyrifos at 1 pint per acre for low to moderate midge infestations. \u00a0Early plantings often avoid serious midge infestations. \u00a0The threshold for fall armyworm in the whorl is 50% infested whorls. \u00a0You can use Belt, Prevathon, or Lannate which are specific to caterpillars. \u00a0For headworms, corn earworms, fall armyworm, sorghum webworm, the threshold is 1 worm per head and you can use Belt, Prevathon, Beseige, or Lannate.<\/p>\n

9. \u00a0Check fields 2-3 weeks before harvest for infestations<\/strong> – A treatment may be needed if large numbers are in the head to prevent damage to combines. \u00a0Large infestations producing large amounts of honeydew and sooty mold may interfere with harvest desiccants. \u00a0Transform WG can be applied up to 14 days before harvest.<\/p>\n

Please call if you have any additional questions.<\/p>\n

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Late summer 2014 – We can all remember the new invasive pest that occurred last year, the sugarcane aphid (SCA). \u00a0SCA infestations occurred in practically every sorghum field and in may cases resulted in production and economic losses. \u00a0Please be aware that the first documented appearance on sorghum was identified this past week in Brooks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,8,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-corn","category-insects","category-pesticides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1031"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1054,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1031\/revisions\/1054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/brooksag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}