Sugarcane aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae): A new pest on sorghum in North America

Authors: BOWLING, ROBERT - Texas A&M University; BREWER, MICHAEL - Texas A&M Agrilife; KERNS, DAVID - Louisiana State University; GORDY, JOHN - Texas A&M Agrilife; SEITER, NICHOLAS - University Of Arkansas; Elliott, Norman - Norm; BUNTIN, DAVID - University Of Georgia; WAY, MO - Texas A&M Agrilife; ROYER, THOMAS - Oklahoma State University; BILES, STEPHEN - Texas A&M Agrilife; MAXSON, ERIN - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2016
Publication Date: 10/1/2016
Citation: Bowling, R., Brewer, M.J., Kerns, D.L., Gordy, J., Seiter, N., Elliott, N.C., Buntin, D.G., Way, M.O., Royer, T.A., Biles, S.P., Maxson, E. 2016. Sugarcane aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae): A new pest on sorghum in North America. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 7(1):12. doi:10.1093/jipm/pmw011.

Interpretive Summary: In 2013 the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a new invasive pest of sorghum in North America, was confirmed on sorghum in four states and 38 counties in the U.S. In 2015, the aphid was reported on sorghum in 17 states and over 400 counties as well as all sorghum productions regions in Mexico. Ability to overwinter on living annual and perennial hosts in southern sorghum production areas and wind-aided movement of alate aphids appear to be the main factors in its impressive geographic spread in North America. Morphological characteristics of the sugarcane aphid include dark tarsi, cornicles, and antennae, allowing easy differentiation from other aphids on the crop. It damages sorghum by removing sap and covering plants with honeydew causing general plant decline and yield loss. Honeydew and sooty mold can disrupt harvesting. The aphid's high reproductive rate on susceptible sorghum hybrids has resulted in reports of yield loss ranging from 10% to over 50%. In response, a combination of research-based data and observation has supported development of state identification, scouting, and treatment guides to aid in use of insecticides. Highly efficacious insecticides have been identified, and guided by weekly scouting and use of thresholds; economic loss by sugarcane aphid can be substantially reduced. Some commercial sorghum hybrids are partially resistant to the aphid, and plant breeders have identified other lines with sugarcane aphid resistance. A very diverse community of predators (hover flies, lady beetles, lacewings) and parasitoids (principally aphelinids) of sugarcane aphid have been identified, and their value to limit sugarcane aphid population growth is under investigation. The potential for controlling the aphid and mitigating the injury to sorghum using the above mentioned technologies and others yet to be examined is promising.

Technical Abstract: In 2013 the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a new invasive pest of sorghum in North America, was confirmed on sorghum in four states and 38 counties in the U.S. In 2015, the aphid was reported on sorghum in 17 states and over 400 counties as well as all sorghum productions regions in Mexico. Ability to overwinter on living annual and perennial hosts in southern sorghum production areas and wind-aided movement of alate aphids appear to be the main factors in its impressive geographic spread in North America. Morphological characteristics of the sugarcane aphid include dark tarsi, cornicles, and antennae, allowing easy differentiation from other aphids on the crop. It damages sorghum by removing sap and covering plants with honeydew causing general plant decline and yield loss. Honeydew and sooty mold can disrupt harvesting. The aphid's high reproductive rate on susceptible sorghum hybrids has resulted in reports of yield loss ranging from 10% to over 50%. In response, a combination of research-based data and observation has supported development of state identification, scouting, and treatment guides to aid in use of insecticides. Highly efficacious insecticides have been identified, and guided by weekly scouting and use of thresholds; economic loss by sugarcane aphid can be substantially reduced. Some commercial sorghum hybrids are partially resistant to the aphid, and plant breeders have identified other lines with sugarcane aphid resistance. A very diverse community of predators (hover flies, lady beetles, lacewings) and parasitoids (principally aphelinids) of sugarcane aphid have been identified, and their value to limit sugarcane aphid population growth is under investigation.