On July 6, 2016, NCSU Extension Entomologist Dominic Reisig reported that the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) was found in Stanly County, NC. We first detected this aphid in Virginia in late September 2015 (in Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Suffolk, Surry, and Sussex Counties), and with its ability to spread and reproduce rapidly, we recommend monitoring for this pest in Virginia sorghum fields.  Click for more information Sugarcane Aphid-2016

Prepared: July 7, 2016
Chris Teutsch, Maria Balota, and Sean Malone
Virginia Tech’s Southern Piedmont and Tidewater ARECs
Blackstone and Suffolk, VA
cteutsch@vt.edu, mbalota@vt.edu, and smalone@vt.edu