Management of sorghum midge on sorghum on the coastal plain of Nicaragua

Experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of several management practices for sorghum midge [Stenodiplosis sorghicola (Coq.)], on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] on the Pacific coastal plain of Nicaragua during the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons. Sorghum planted early had significantly lower infestations of sorghum midge than sorghum planted later. Of four varieties tested, the varieties that bloomed earliest had lowest sorghum midge infestations. The chemical insecticides Decis (deltamethrin), Lorsban (chlorpyrifos), and Talstar (bifenthrin) were effective when applied at the lowest test rates for control of sorghum midge adults, when sorghum was at 10% bloom and infestation was one adult per panicle.