Sugarcane Aphid & Potential Control Strategies

Nicholas Clark – Farm Advisor, Kings, Tulare, & Fresno CountiesTeam: David Haviland, Brian Marsh, Jeff Dahlberg, and Bob Hutmacher2019 Western Alfalfa and Forage SymposiumNovember 20, 2019Reno, NV

Presentation Outline• Sugarcane aphid of sorghum as a pest in the US

• Identifying and scouting for Sugarcane Aphid

• Effective control

• Experimental control – soon to be available?

Why is Sugarcane Aphid a Pest?Distribution and Damage to Sorghum Crops

When and Where Did it Come From?• 2013 reported in US (from

Mexico)• 2016 1st reported in CA

Narrow Host Range, Includes Weeds• Observed to feed heavily and reproduce on sorghum species

only• Johnson Grass is a sorghum species

• Will be present on, but not cause damage to other grasses• Not observed to feed or reproduce on broad-leaf plants

Fast-Growing, Honeydew-Secreting, Sap Suckers!• Can double population in 2-7 days• Sap loss reduces C to sinks

• General stunting, delayed development, diminished grain, early senescence

• Honeydew supports Sooty Mold, blocks photosynthesis

Exposure to Aphids and Yield: 2017

y = -4.16ln(x) + 66.99R² = 0.3378

0.005.00

10.0015.0020.0025.0030.0035.0040.0045.0050.00

0 5000 10000 15000 20000

Yie

ld a

t 70%

MC

(Ton

s/ac

re)

Cumulative Aphid-Days

Exposure to Aphids and Yield: 2018

y = -0.0017x + 33.772R² = 0.1421

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

Yie

ld (T

ons @

30%

DM

/acr

e)

P = 0.033

Jennifer Heguy, Merced Dairy Advisor2016 Study of 16 dairies.

How to ID and Scout for SCAFirst Steps in IPM Decision Making

Pretty Easily Distinguishable• Light green to vivid orange

• Black antennae, black tailpipes, black feet

• Heavy honeydew producers

Nymph and Winged Adult

When, Where, & What to Scout• Scout edges weekly until ID’ed

• Sample 4 areas 2x weekly until threshold

50 Aphids/Leaf, Time to Treat

This is 50 aphids

Effective SCA Control MeasuresPreventative and Responsive Tactics for your IPM Strategy

Preventative Control

• Manage Johnson Grass

• Choose resistant varieties

• Plant early, encourage vigor and health

• Neonicotinoid seed treatments available

Jeff Gore, Miss. SU

Responsive Methods

• Flupyradifurone (Sivanto Prime) or Sulfoxaflor (Transform WG) at treatment threshold, enough water for deep canopy penetration

• Greenbug poison is SCA energy drink• Malathion, dimethoate, and chlorpyrifos don’t work well

2017 CA Foliar Insecticide Trial Results - Shafter

0100200300400500600700800

6 DAT 12 DAT 15 DAT 20 DAT 26 DAT 29 DAT 34 DAT 39 DAT

Aph

ids p

er L

eaf

UTC Sivanto Prime 4 Sivanto Prime 7 Transform 1.5Malathion 57% 24 Dimethoate 4EC 16 Lorsban Adv. 32

2018 CA Foliar Insecticide Trial Results - Shafter

0255075

100125150

Mea

n ap

hids

/leaf

UTC Siv_Prime Siv_HL Transform Sefina 6 Sefina 12 Dimethoate Dim_Siv* * *

Experimental SCA ControlMore Options on the Horizon?

New Product & Application Mode Registrations?

Company Product AI IRAC group Registration Status

BASF Sefina Inscalis Afidopyropen 9D 2nd or 3rd tier for Sec. 3; Field research

Corteva(Dow)

Transform WG Sulfoxaflor 4C EPA Sec. 3; CA SLN; Field research

Bayer Sivanto HL Flupyradifurone 4D Field research

Sivanto at Planting and at Layby• At planting was sprayed in

seed furrow before closing wheel

• At layby was injected with UAN-32 4” from plant about 2-3” below soil surface

2018 Five Points Soil-Applied Sivanto

050

100150200250300350400450

4DAI8/20/18

11DAI8/27/18

4DAT9/4/18

7DAT9/7/18

14DAT9/14/18

21DAT9/21/18

28DAT9/28/18

Aph

ids/

leaf

UTC IF 4 fl oz IF 5 fl oz Fol 3.5 fl oz SD 2.5 fl oz SD 4 fl oz

Yield Protection from Sivanto Applications

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

UTC IF 4 fl oz IF 5 fl oz Fol 3.5 fl oz SD 2.5 fl oz SD 4 fl oz

Yie

ld (T

ons/

acre

@ 3

0% D

M)

Sivanto Soil Treatment on FQTreatment

CP Ash ADF aNDF Lignin Starch tNDFD 30 om1

Check6.4 12.3 41.6 a 58.7 a 5.7 6.0 b 53.6 ab

In-furrow 7.0 11.5 35.1 b 49.9 b 5.2 16.6 a 49.3 b

Side-dress 6.7 11.8 38.0 ab 54.5 ab 5.4 10.9 ab 54.8 a

Foliar 7.1 10.9 34.8 b 48.9 b 5.4 19.0 a 49.5 b

P-value 0.455 0.468 0.021 0.009 0.911 0.035 0.003

Take-Away from this Presentation• Use preventative measures when feasible

• Early detection and diligent scouting - key

• Selective materials available, protective of beneficials, avoid dimethoate, malathion

• Most important to reduce cumulative aphid exposure to plants

• Looks good for future registration of new materials and uses

ThanksNick Clark

559-852-2788

680 N. Campus Dr., Ste. A

Hanford, CA 93230

neclark@ucanr.edu