Cutworm (Agrotis sp.) Early instars are about 7-12 mm long. Fully grown caterpillars are 35-50 mm long. (c) A.M. Varela, icipe
Chafer grub (Schyzonycha spp.) (c) A. M. Varela.
Storage Pests
Grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella). The moth is small, pale brown, 5-7 mm long with wings folded, wingspan 1-1.6 cm. (c) Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Birds
Red-Billed Quelae Bird This bird is one of them most dangerous of all agricultural pests in Africa, and causes food shortages in many countries. (c) Courtesy EcoPort (http://www.ecoport.org) : C.Elliott.
Red-Billed Quelae Bird Nest The nest is made in the form of a pouch with a roof and an entrance near the top. The male is responsible for the construction which is completed by a remarkable technique of weaving strips of grass back and forth to form a mesh-like structure. This is why the quelea bird is called a ‘weaver bird’. If the nest is accepted by a female, she will enter and in due course produce a clutch of three eggs. (c) Courtesy EcoPort (http://www.ecoport.org) : C.Elliott
A flock of Red-billed Quelea birds (c) Alastair Rae, wikipedia
Sorghum Shoot Fly
Shoot fly (Atherigona soccata) The adults are dark brown, and similar to a housefly, but nearly half the size. (c) Courtesy EcoPort (http://www.ecoport.org): Georg Goergen
Right, deadheart, egg on leaf, inset: (the adult shoot fly is about 0.5 cm). Females lay single cigar-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves at the 1- to 7-leaf stage. The eggs hatch after only a day or two of incubation, and the larvae cut the growing point of the leaf, resulting in wilting and drying. These leaves, known as ‘deadheart’, are easily plucked. When a deadheart is plucked, it releases an obnoxious odor. (c) icrisat.org
African Armyworm
African armyworm (Spodotera exempta). Mature caterpillars measure up to 4 cm. (c) University of Arkansas
African Bollworm
African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) on beans. Caterpillars are 3 to 4 cm in length. (c) A.M. Varela, icipe
Stemborers: Spotted Stemborer
Spotted stemborer (Chilo partellus) (c) Courtesy EcoPort (http://www.ecoport.org): Agricultural Research Council of South Africa.
Other Bugs
Green stink bug (nymphs and adults). Adults are about 1.2cm long. (Host: Pearl Millet) (c) Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
The Sorghum Aphid and the Maize Aphid
The maize aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis. Colony on leaf of maize (c) www.inra.fr
Sorghum Midge
Sorghum midge damage (c) Keith M. Harris from the Crop Protection Compendium, 2007 Edition. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2007.
Stemborers: African Maize Stalkborer
African maize stalkborer (Busseola fusca) damage on maize. Caterpillars are relatively featureless and noctuid, growing to a length of up to 4 cm. They lack conspicuous hairs or markings and look smooth and shiny. Colour is variable but usually creamy-white (c) A. M. Varela, icipe
