Sugarcane Aphid Causing Problems

Since the fall of 2013 farmers in South Texas and North Texas along the coast farmers have noticed a new pest moving in.  The pest has been identified as a sugarcane aphid variety, but the typical yellow sugarcane aphid common in southern states.

By last years harvest that aphid population had exploded and deposited large amounts of honeydew on the sorghum crop causing a nightmare for farmers.

IPM specialist warned the aphid may have survived the winter and come back much stronger in the spring.  Early reports are suggesting the population is currently growing at an alarming rate.

The best defense against any new pest is a coordinated scouting defense.  Dr. Mike Brewer, a Texas AgriLife entomologist, laid out a scouting strategy to growers in Corpus Christi during a meeting to discuss the problem.  South West Farm Press was in attendance and shot a video of it.  Click here for part 1 and here for part 2 of the video.

For more information on sugarcane ahphids, read this Sorghum University paper.