Chemical control of sorghum shoot-fly (Atherigona varia soccata Rondani (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in Mysore State

In seven field tests in Karnataka, India, in 1967-70, 12 insecticides were applied (mainly as granules, but in the case of carbofuran as a wettable powder) in the seed furrows before sowing (and in one of two carbofuran treatments as a seed dressing), and the numbers of dead-hearts caused by larvae of Atherigona soccata Rond. (varia soccata) were recorded when the crop was four weeks old. The best results were obtained with carbofuran applied to the soil at 1.5 kg/ha. Phorate, disulfoton, aldicarb (Temik) and dimethoate also afforded good protection. Seed treatment with 4% carbofuran gave good protection in one season but not in the other. Diazinon was as good as phorate and disulfoton at 3.0 kg/ha in one season, but failed at 1.5 kg/ha in the other