The sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari, is an important pest of sorghum and sugarcane. A study was conducted to test the efficacy of predators in conjunction with selected insecticides. Two insecticides, Sivanto™ and Transform® were used in combination with the release of predatory lady beetle adults and larvae onto sugarcane aphids. One day after insecticide spray and release of sugarcane aphids and predators, all treatments killed significantly more (48-83%) sugarcane aphids than did the nontreated check. Three days after treatment, all treatments except Sivanto™ and larvae killed significantly more (41-79%) sugarcane aphids than did the nontreated check. Significantly more sugarcane aphids were killed with predators combined with Sivanto™ (82-91%) and Transform® (96-97%) than with Transform® (59%), Sivanto™ (49%), or larvae (46%) alone. Overall, a combination of lady beetle larva or adult with Transform® or Sivanto™ suppressed sugarcane aphids better than did Sivanto™ or Transform® alone. Sivanto™ and Transform® had no significant negative impact on predatory lady beetles.
