1. Natural enemies in Sorghum and Their Potential Role in Sugarcane Aphid Management
Kristopher Giles
Oklahoma State University
Sorghum – Sugarcane Aphid
Research Exchange Meeting
Dallas, TX
January 3 – 4, 2017

2. Introduction Large #’s of NE’s: Region specific How to integrate
Predators
Parasitoids
Pathogen
How to integrate
impact?

3. Discussion Points / Issues
Likelihood of NE impact
Other invasive examples indicate?
Aphid Biology-Ecology
Natural Enemy Dynamics
Sampling Natural Enemies
NE thresholds
Future Pest Status of SCA

4. Aphid Biology-Ecology
Population doubling times (in days) at 23 °C (73 °F)
Greenbug Sugarcane Aphid
Susceptible
2.17
1.54
Resistant
2.77
3.30
*Real potential for top-down suppression
on resistant lines!!
Antixenosis / Antibiosis / Tolerance
JP Michaud: KS116B (with res)

5. Natural Enemy Dynamics
Susceptible Plant – Field – Landscape
Resistant Plant – Field – Landscape
Interaction
with
insecticides
Life
History
Studies
SCA
Areawide
Project
Regional Landscape Dynamics
Uniform Planting (Gulf State Regions)
Early-and-Late Planting (Ex. Kansas)
*Quantify pest/predator
movement, dynamics and
suppression "services"

6. Sampling NE’s and Thresholds
Lindenmayer et al., Elliott et al.:
Optimal sampling design for SCA threshold detection
SCA sampling ≠ NE Sampling
Should be developed during SCA studies: NE distribution(s) may be unique.
Long-term Goal: NE Thresholds
Dynamics and sampling data will allow for hypothesis testing and validation
Royer et al. USDA-NIFA Grant

7. Key Learnings
Absence of conclusive quantitative data, however, NE’s appear to have little impact on SCA, especially on susceptible varieties
Detailed Studies on Natural Enemy Ecology and Sampling are needed if SCA remains sporadic to severe pest!

8. Next Steps Current Life-history and field level Investigator Studies
Future SCA Areawide Project Results

9. Discussion