Mysterious pest threatening billion-dollar Texas crop

[Locutus]

A tiny bug that has mystified Texas farmers and agriculture researchers is threatening to eat a big hole in the state's economy.

According to a news release from Texas A&M University, the insect of unknown origin - which measures about 1/16 inch - is poised to inflict big damage to the billion-dollar Texas grain sorghum crop.

"For now, we're calling this pest the sugarcane aphid," Raul Villanueva, an entomologist with A&M's AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, said in the release.

It was first seen last year, but researchers don't know if it's new or if it just switched hosts, from sugarcane to grain sorghum, Villanueva said.


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Mysterious pest threatening billion-dollar Texas crop - Houston Chronicle

 

[petros]

Now, there's no approved control for it, although an insecticide called Transform WG was found effective against it, Villanueva said.
The Texas Department of Agriculture has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for an emergency exemption to use Transform WG on grain sorghum, the release said.
Researchers are also considering using the insect's natural enemies, such as ladybugs, lacewings and sweat flies, Villanueva said. But sugarcane aphids reproduce so fast, these biological controls may not be effective, he said.

D.E.ath (diatomaceous earth) will kill aphids and it's enviro safe. Desiccants work great for insect control with aerial application.

 

[Liberalman]

I thought red necks were the only pests in Texas

 

[lone wolf]

Does Texas earth support tobacco? Nicotine is bug kryptonite

 

[Nuggler]

gol dang ! gonna be a poor year I cain't get my sorghum fix.