Sweet Sorghum shoot fly

(Atherigona soccata)

Symptoms

• Sorghum shoot fly females lay cigar shaped eggs singly on the lower surface of the leaves at the 1 to 7 leaf stage.
• The larva cuts the growing point, resulting in wilting and drying of the central leaf known as "deadheart".
• The damaged plants produce side tillers, which may also be attacked.
• During the rainy season, shoot fly damage is greater in crops planted 15-20 days later than the first monsoon rains or when the rainfall is erratic and farmers resort to staggered plantings.
• Shoot fly infestations are normally high in the postrainy season, crop planted in September - October.

  

   

                 Egg laid and Deadheart                                 Damage in Sorghum

   

 Shoot fly damage of Sweet Sorghum