Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T19:41:27.839Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies on the biology, damage and crop loss assessment of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coq. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Aliyageen M. Alghali
Aliyageen M. Alghali
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Mbita Point Field Station, P.O. Box 30, Mbita, Kenya
Get access

Abstract

A study on the biology of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coq., and the damage and crop loss it causes was carried out under field conditions during the main planting season at Mbita, in Western Kenya. The developmental period from egg to adult ranged from 17 to 34 days with a mean of 23 days. On average, 3.2 adult midges emerged from each damaged spikelet. Adult emergence was bimodal, with a major morning peak and minor late afternoon peak. A predator, Diaperasticus erythrocephala Olivier (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), was found preying on newly emerged adults. The level of damage varied among 38 sorghum lines tested, with the size of the panicle (r = 0.73; P < 0.05) and the number of days to 50% flowering (r = 0.49; P < 0.001) influencing the level. The level of damage for the sorghum variety Serena ranged from 1.8 to 97.7% and grain yield from 22.3 to 0.9 kg/50 m2, respectively for plantings during the months of March–June. The relationship between damage and crop loss was almost perfect (r = 0.998; P < 0.001).

Keywords

SorghumContarinia sorghicolaovipositiondevelopmental periodemergence predatorsdamagegrain yield
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 5 , Issue 4 , August 1984 , pp. 253 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alghali, A. M. and Osisanya, E. O. (1982) Oviposition by Diopsis macrophthalma Dalman (Diptera: Diopsidae) on different rice varieties and development of deadhearts. Bull. ent. Res. 72, 583–588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bottrell, D. G. (1970) Entomological advances in sorghum production. Grain Sorghum Research in Texas 1970. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, Texas A & M University, Texas, U.S.A.Google Scholar
Bottrell, D. G. (1971) Concepts for insect pest management in grain sorghum. Proc. 26th Ann. Corn and Sorghum Research Conf., U.S.A.Google Scholar
Bowden, J. (1965) Sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola (Coq.) and other causes of grain sorghum loss in Ghana. Bull. ent. Res. 56, 169–189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geering, Q. A. (1953) The sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola (Coq.) in East Africa. Bull. ent. Res. 44, 363–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, K. M. (1961) The sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola (Coq.) in Nigeria. Bull. ent. Res. 52, 129–146.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maxwell, F. G. (1982) Current status of breeding for resistance to insects. J. Nemat. 14, 14–23.Google ScholarPubMed
Nair, K. S. and McEwen, L. (1976) Host selection by the adult cabbage maggot, Hylemya brassicae (Diptera: Anthomyiidae): Effect of glucosinolates and common nutrients on oviposition. Can. Ent. 108, 1021–1030.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Passlow, T. (1954) The sorghum midge diapause. Nature, Lond. 170, 656.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, J. G. and Cate, J. R. (1971) The sorghum midge and its control. Research of Grain Sorghum Insects and Spider Mites in Texas (Consolidated PR. 2863–2878). The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, Texas A & M University, Texas, U.S.A.Google Scholar
Van Emden, H. F. and Bashford, M. A. (1971) The performance of Brevicoryne brassicae and Myzus persicae in relation to plant age and leaf amino acids. Entomologia exp. appl. 14, 349–360CrossRefGoogle Scholar