Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Sorghum midge (336)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. Sorghum (grain and forage), and wild grasses (especially Johnson grass). A major fly pest.
  • Larvae eat the young seed heads.
  • Midge, mosquito-like, orange, up to 2 mm long, clear wings, long antennae, and, for females, a long thin ovipositor. Eggs laid into flowers.
  • Eggs hatch, larvae are white then orange, 2.5 mm long, spindle shaped. Pupae on the flower head. Some larvae go into resting phase, up to 5 years.
  • Spread occurs when grain is moved with larvae in resting phase.
  • Natural enemies: several parasitoid wasps, but only partially effective.
  • Cultural control: plant early; weed grasses; increase seeding rate; rotate with sugar cane or peanuts; legume intercrops; burn stubble; resistant varieties.
  • Chemical control: if  >1-2 midges/head at flowering apply synthetic pyrethroids.

Common Name

Sorghum midge

Scientific Name

Stenodiplosis sorghicola; previously, Contarinia sorghicola.


AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
1Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and CABI (2015) Stenodiplosis sorghicola (sorghum midge) Crop Protection Compendium (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/15237); and from Business Queensland (2020) Sorghum midge. Queensland Government. (https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/crop-growing/pests-field-crops/sorghum-midge); and from DAF (2018) Insect pests management in sorghum. Queensland Government. (https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/plants/crops-pastures/broadacre-field-crops/insect-pest-management-specific-crops/insect-pest-management-sorghum#Sorghum_midge). Diagram Mississippi State University Extension. (http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/information-sheets/sorghum-midge-control). Photo 1 Alton N. Sparks, Jr., University of Georgia. Bugwood.org.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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