*3.1.1 Important pests*

Shoot fly (*Atherigona soccata*), Stem borer (*Chilo partellus*), Midge (*Stenodiplosis sorghicola*), White grub (*Holotrichia consanguinea*), Armyworm (*Mythimna separata*), Cutworm (*A. ipsilon*), Grasshopper (*Hieroglyphus sp*), Pyrilla (*Pyrilla perpusilla*), Shoot bug: (*Peregrinus maidis*), Earhead caterpillars (*Helicoverpa armigera*), Earhead

bug (*Calocoris angustatus*), Sugar cane aphid (*Rhophalosiphum maidis*), Spider mite (*Oligonychus indicus*).

### *3.1.2 IPM approaches*

Sowing dates must be altered based on the population dynamics of the main pests to keep the pest population under control. Sowing the same cultivar early and consistently across large areas reduced shoot fly, midge, and head bug damage. Cultural practices such as high seed rate, balanced fertiliser treatment, field cleanliness, weeding, and intercropping with legumes reduced damage from shoot fly, stem borer, armyworm, and sorghum midge. Pest resistant cultivars should form the foundation of any sorghum pest control approach. P 311, SPV 1015, M-35-l, Swati, and CSV 14R are resistant to shoot fly and are suitable for cultivation throughout the rainy and post-rainy seasons [21]. In locations where head bugs and caterpillars are common, cultivars with loose panicles, such as ICSV 88032, can be grown. Insecticides derived from plants, such as those obtained from *Azadirachta indica* (neem), *Annona squamosa*, *Acrorus calamus*, *Catharanthus roseus*, and others, were exploited in IPM [22]. Sorghum shoot fly eggs have been parasitized by *Trichogrammatoidea bactrae* and *Trichogramma simmondsi*; *Trichogramma evanescens*, *Trichogramma kalkae*, T*richogramma chilonis* and *Trichogramma*. *australicum Aprostocetus spp*. and *Neotrichoporoides* (*Tetrastichus*) *nyemitawus* were the most important shoot fly larval parasitoids. Need-based insecticides viz., malathion 50% EC for earhead midge, Oxydemeton – methyl 25% EC for shoot fly, phenthoate 2% DP for red spider mite, pink mite, purple mite, scarlet mite, phosalone 4% DP for ear head midge, quinalphos 5% G for stem borer, quinalphos 25% EC for Mite and Shoot fly, quinalphos 1.5% DP fo earhead bug, earhead midge, thiamethoxam 30% FS for shoot fly.
