In an unexpected turn of events, insect populations of the sugarcane aphid on grain sorghum fields in South Texas are extremely low, possibly due to a combination of both weather and science, reports AgriLife Today.
Dr. Raul Villanueva, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist, said he and other experts were expecting damaging, high numbers of the insect in this year’s crop.
But this year, the insect appears to be all but gone from South Texas, including the Coastal Bend area, which also suffered high populations last year.
“This sudden drop in populations has been a pleasant surprise for everybody,” Villanueva said. “The season is just beginning and we’ve had staggered and late planting dates due to rain delays. So, growers and consultants still need to keep an eye out for sugarcane aphids and midge, especially late in the season.”