THE SORGHUM MIDGE Stenodiplosis sorghicola COQ. (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE) IN GUANAJUATO, MEXICO

Abstract

Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, is the second most important field crop in the State of Guanajuato; until 1990 the sorghum midge Stenodiplosis sorghicola was not an important pest in the State. In 1990, high populations of the insect were detected, so research was initiated to evaluate its presence, as well as the amount of damage, and the reaction of some sorghum hybrids to the midge. In 1991, 25 accessions from ICRISAT were evaluated. Then, in 1992, hybrids of the Sorghum Program of the Bajío Experimental Station were established in two sowing dates. The number of grains with midge larvae were counted, 15 days after flowering. Results confirmed the presence of the midge in all the genotypes, that this pest was already of economic importance, and that the sorghum genotypes differed in the degree of damage due to the midge presence.