1. Leads: David Kerns and Gus Lorenz
Project #3: How to effectively manage SCA in the presence of other pests?
Leads: David Kerns and Gus Lorenz
Robert Bowling, David Buntin, Jeff Gore, Brian McCornack and Ali Zarrabi

2. Objectives
Determine the efficacy of insecticide mixes towards multiple pests in sorghum.
Determine the impact of insecticide mixes targeting multiple pests on beneficial insects.

3. Design & Methods Headworm Midge Yield and adjust to 14% moisture
Replicated, small plot, RCB (4-5 replicates)
Two test options
Targeting SCA + Headworms
Targeting SCA + Midge
Application timing on one or both pest complexes as available; emphasis on midge test where midge are problematic
SCA and beneficials
Sampling of leaves (10 upper, 10 lower) per plot, estimate number of SCA count beneficals.
Precounts, 2-3 DAT, and 7, 14, 21 DAT
Headworm
Bucket sample 10 heads per plot, count and ID.
Precounts, 2-3 DAT and 7 DAT.
Midge
Precounts of adults visually from 20 panicles/plot.
12 DAT, remove and bag 10 heads/plot, count emerged adults 7-12 days later.
At soft dough estimate percentage damage kernel.
Yield and adjust to 14% moisture

4. Locations Researcher Test site Target pests Hybrid Bowling
Corpus Christi, TX
SCA + headworm
DKS38-88
Buntin
Plains, GA
83P17
Gore
Stoneville, MS
DKS54-00
Kerns
Winnsboro, LA
M75GB39
Lorenz
Marianna, AR
84P80
McCormack
South Haven, KS
DKS37-07
Nutech 623
Zarrabi
Lane, OK
KS 585
SCA + midge

5. Headworm Tests Trt SCA insecticide SCA Insecticide 1 Untreated 2
Transform 1 oz/ac or
Pyrethroid (Baythroid XL 2.8 fl-oz or Karate Z 1.92 fl-oz/ac) 3
Blackhawk 3.3 oz/ac 4
Belt 3 fl-oz/ac 5
Sivanto 4 fl-oz/ac
Prevathon 14 fl-oz/ac 6
Lannate 2.4LV 16 fl-oz/ac 7
Diamond 9 fl-oz/ac
OK location used Transform first application and Sivanto on a second application

6. SCA Populations

7. SCA Transform

8. SCA Sivanto Prime

9. Headworm Populations

10. Headworms Transform or Sivanto

11. Midge Tests Trt SCA insecticide SCA Insecticide 1 Transform 1 oz/ac or
Untreated 2
Pyrethroid (Baythroid XL 2.0 fl-oz or Karate Z 1.2 fl-oz/ac) 3
Blackhawk 1.5 oz/ac 4
Sivanto 4 fl-oz/ac
Lorsban 1 pt/ac or Lannate 2.4 LV 1 pt/ac 5
Diamond 6 fl-oz/ac

12. Sorghum Midge

13. Sorghum Midge
No yield response

14. Sorghum Midge
No yield response

15. Sorghum Midge
No yield response

16. Beneficial Populations

17. Beneficials Transform

18. Beneficials Sivanto Prime

19. Beneficials Sivanto Prime

20. Key Learning Points
Neither Transform nor Sivanto Prime appear to impact the efficacy of insecticides targeting headworm complex.
Pyrethroids may negatively impact SCA control achieved by Transform but did not appear to affect Sivanto Prime as much.
Blackhawk, Belt, Lannate and Prevathon all offered good headworm control.
Diamond was ineffective (timing issue?) and Pyrethroids were inconsistent (probably due to resistance in some area).

21. Key Learning Points (cont.)
Good sorghum midge tests are difficult to achieve.
Sorghum midge is probably over-emphasized as a pest (too many automatic sprays).
Were unable to assess midge/SCA treatment combinations.
Under low to moderate pest pressure, Blackhawk, Lorsban and Pyrethroids all appeared be effective in preventing midge injury.
Diamond was inconsistent; higher rates may be effective.

22. Key Learning Points (cont.)
SCA arthropod natural enemies were not numerous.
Lady beetles appear to the dominant natural enemy of SCA.
Where mixed with Transform; Belt, Prevathon, Lannate and Diamond all has fewer predators than the untreated at 2 DAT.
Blackhawk and Pyrethroids did not severely impact lady beetles at 2 DAT.

23. Next Steps
Determine economically feasible insecticide mixes for multi-pest targets.
Comprehensive study of impact of natural enemies on SCA populations.
Specifically designed and focused.
How important are they?
What are the impacts of insecticides have on them?
Sorghum midge education.
Are they as common a problem as they are made out to be?

24. Questions?