Managing Sugarcane Aphids (Melanaphis sacchari) in MS Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

The Sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) was first found in the United States in sorghum in 2013 in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This pest is detrimental to sorghum production and we need to better our knowledge on the management of the sugarcane aphid to help sorghum farmers have a sustainable future in the crop. In my research, I am looking at factors affecting aphid populations such as: planting date, planting population, seed treatment, and variety. I am also looking at the effects of changing temperature on the efficacy of common foliar insecticides on sugarcane aphids in grain sorghum.