Sugarcane aphids confirmed in 21 Ark. counties
Fast Facts:
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- Sugarcane aphids confirmed in 21 counties
- Aphids problematic for sorghum growers
(222 words)
(Newsrooms: SUBS 4th graf to add Drew County, previously omitted from list)
MONTICELLO, Ark. – Sugarcane aphids are being found through most of the Arkansas
Delta, surrounding Prairie County and extending to 21 counties statewide.
The insects, which infest sorghum and can sometimes be found in Johnsongrass were
confirmed in the three southeasternmost counties in late June.
“Aphids are now confirmed in 21 counties,” said Nick Seiter, extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The aphids have been reported as far north as Crittenden and White counties and as
far west as Logan County in the Arkansas River Valley. The full list: Arkansas, Ashley,
Chicot, Crittenden, Desha, Drew, Lee, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Phillips, St. Francis
and White counties.
New to the list are Craighead, Cross, Jackson, Jefferson, Mississippi, Monroe, Poinsett,
Pulaski, Woodruff. On Seiter’s latest map, Prairie County is an aphid-free island.
Aphids exude honeydew that can grow black mold that inhibits photosynthesis on the
leaves and the stickiness of the honeydew can gum up harvesting equipment.
For more information about managing sugarcane aphids, contact your county extension
office or visit www.uaex.uada.eduor http://arkansascrops.com .
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu
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