Sorghum midge dispersal from sorghum

Survival of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola (Coquillett), a key insect pest of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, depends on its ability to successfully find Sorghum spp. in anthesis. However, the distance and direction sorghum midges disperse to oviposit in flowering sorghum have not been adequately quantified nor has the importance of wind in this dispersal been adequately investigated. Sorghum midges were trapped after dispersing from sorghum in the Brazos River Bottom in Burleson County, TX. Most sorghum midges ( approximately 63% of the total trapped) were trapped toward the northeast, apparently passively transported by southwest winds that prevail in central Texas during approximately 82% of the morning hours in late July and August. Some sorghum midges, however, were trapped dispersing across the prevailing wind direction and toward nearby flowering sorghum. Some sorghum midges were trapped >400 m from where they had emerged.