Efficacy of some newer systemic insecticides for the control of sorghum shootfly, Atherigona soccata Rondani

Field tests were carried out in India during the kharif (hot) season of 1977 and the summer of 1978 to compare the effectiveness of 2 formulations of carbofuran against the sorghum pest Atherigona soccata Rond., to develop a suitable technique for granular seed coating of sorghum so as to reduce the dosage of granular insecticides, and to evaluate the effectiveness of isofenphos and mephosfolan for the control of the pest. Data were recorded on germination, dead hearts caused by the pest up to 2-3 weeks after germination, and the yield of grain and fodder. On the basis of overall results of the 2 trials, it was concluded that the recently-introduced flowable formulation of carbofuran was more effective against A. soccata than a suspension of the compound. Carbofuran and isofenphos seed coatings applied at a rate of 30 g/100 g seed gave adequate protection only for up to 2 weeks. A granular formulation containing 5% isofenphos was found to be highly effective in controlling the pest when applied in seed furrows at a rate of 1.5 g/m row