Larval feeding by which insect often gives a 'blasted' appearance to sorghum heads?

Larval feeding by which insect often gives a 'blasted' appearance to sorghum heads?

• A. chinch bugs
• B. sorghum midges
• C. sorghum webworms
• D. sorghum headworms

Answer: (B)

The feeding inside the developing sorghum head by sorghum midges causes the “blasted” look. These small flies lay eggs in the panicle, and the hatched larvae eat the tissue and developing kernels inside the head. That internal feeding destroys the grain and the structure, so the head becomes shriveled, damaged, and appears blasted. This pattern is distinct from damage caused by other pests that feed on leaves or cause surface or webbing damage on the head, which doesn’t produce the characteristic blasted appearance.

The feeding inside the developing sorghum head by sorghum midges causes the “blasted” look. These small flies lay eggs in the panicle, and the hatched larvae eat the tissue and developing kernels inside the head. That internal feeding destroys the grain and the structure, so the head becomes shriveled, damaged, and appears blasted. This pattern is distinct from damage caused by other pests that feed on leaves or cause surface or webbing damage on the head, which doesn’t produce the characteristic blasted appearance.