The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, a new pest on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (L.) in Alabama

The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), a pest of sugarcane in the U.S. in Florida (1977) and Louisiana (1999), emerged as a new pest on sorghum in Texas and Louisiana in 2013 and has since spread throughout much of the Southeastern U.S. In July of 2014 the sugarcane aphid was detected in Alabama and caused major economic losses on forage and grain sorghum. Yield reductions result from direct feeding damage caused by the aphid, while honeydew production promotes sooty mold and interferes with harvest.  Management of sugarcane aphid is difficult due to its rapid reproductive rate, our lack of knowledge on the biology and ecology of this emerging pest, and limited data on management options. Studies conducted in 2014 in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana have established guidelines for economic thresholds, insecticides, and resistant sorghum varieties. The overall objective of this research is to investigate these management tools alone or in combination to prevent economic losses from the sugarcane aphid on sorghum in Alabama. Small plot research trials were conducted to: 1) evaluate insecticide efficacy; and 2) assess commercially available sorghum varieties for resistance to the sugarcane aphid.  The results from these trials will be presented.