1. A number of hemipteran pests have the ability to directly
damage ripening grain sorghum in Kansas
Chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus
2 (3?) generations per year
False chinch bug, Nysius rafanus
Tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris
3-4 (5?) generations
Later planted fields are most at risk, mainly from
late-instars and adults feeding on milk-stage grain
Until 2015, these pests normally caused only isolated problems in ripening grain

2. Reduction of panicle size due to SCA feeding through grainfill
The panicles on the left were impacted by SCA + corn leaf aphids, with a bit of seed
bug damage also. Damaged panicles weighed 70% less than those on the right.
SCA feeding also results in un-even ripening of grain – complicating harvest timing

3. Lygus bug damage Sorghum midge damage
Alfalfa, cotton and soybean fields are all
potential sources of migrant lygus bugs

4. Blasted grain Normal heads
Field with 50-60% yield loss due to feeding by seed bugs
There were no aphids in this field!

5. The Culprits False chinch bug, Nysius rafanus
Adult
Adult
Nymphs
Nymph
False chinch bug, Nysius rafanus
Lygus bug, Lygus lineolaris

6. Evidence is only circumstantial, but the abundance of SCA
may be diverting generalist predators from other prey

7. Key Learnings Large SCA populations can allow other aphids
to escape control and exacerbate problems
Many pestiferous Hemiptera are normally
held in check by generalist predators
SCA populations can satiate generalist predators
and divert predation from other prey
Most Hemiptera are likely to be controlled by
Sivanto and Transform applications targeting SCA