Population Dynamics of Sorghum Shoot Fly, Atherigona soccata (Diptera: Muscidae), in Senegal

Abstract

Fish meal-baited water traps were used for assessing abundance and species composition of shoot flies, which are major pests of late-planted local sorghum cultivars in Senegal. Although 23 species of Atherigona were collected and recorded from five regions, Atherigona soccata Rondani was the most common and abundant species. Females represented 80–97% of total flies trapped during 1977–81. Abundance was greatest during August–September. More flies were trapped in sorghum fields and grassy weeds than in fields with pearl millet. Correlations between rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity and fly numbers were present at all sites but an interaction existed between these parameters. Maximum temperature did not favor fly abundance. Late-planted sorghum was more severely attacked by shoot flies. Number of flies trapped was not significantly or consistently related to percentage of plants with fly eggs or dead hearts 14 and 28 d after plant emergence.

Atherigona soccata, population dynamics