Sugarcane Aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Arizona Sorghum

In 2016, the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was first detected and confirmed as a new pest of sorghum species in Arizona. It Scientists first confirmed this invasive species on sorghum in the USA in 2013 and since in nineteen states as well as in all sorghum production regions of Mexico. Sugarcane aphid survives and multiplies primarily on graminaceous crops such as sugarcane, sorghum, and sudangrass as well as weedy johnsongrass. The main factors for sugarcane aphid’s geographic spread appear to be its ability to overwinter on living hosts of those species, allowing for early build up of populations that synchronize with susceptible stage of sorghum, and secondly, the ability to disperse by wind, allowing for augmentation of populations every season. Its dark tarsi, cornicles, and antennae easily differentiate it from other aphids. In 2016 and 2017, sugarcane aphid infestations were very large, often with thousands of sugarcane aphid per leaf in most sorghum production areas in Arizona. We conducted field experiments from March to September 2017 at The University of Arizona’s Maricopa Agricultural Center in Maricopa, AZ. Sugarcane aphid significantly damaged sorghum resulting in yield loss of 30% compared to sorghum that was not treated with insecticides. We are reporting first-hand information of the pest’s occurrence, damage that it causes to sorghum, results of field trials investigating insecticides, and management guidelines.