This article is a list of diseases of

pearl millet Pearl millet (''Cenchrus americanus'', commonly known as the synonym ''Pennisetum glaucum''; also known as 'Bajra' in Hindi, 'Sajje' in Kannada, 'Kambu' in Tamil, 'Bajeer' in Kumaoni and 'Maiwa' in Hausa, 'Mexoeira' in Mozambique) is the most w ...

(''Pennisetum glaucum'').

Bacterial diseases

Fungal diseases

Viral diseases

Nematodes, parasitic

Insects

Insect pests include: ;Seedling pests *shoot fly '' Atherigona approximata'' (major seedling pest) *''

Atherigona soccata ''Atherigona soccata'', the sorghum shoot fly, is a species of fly in the family Muscidae whose larvae feed on the central growing shoots of millet crops like sorghum and finger millet, as well as maize, where they can cause serious loss of yield ...

'', ''

Atherigona oryzae ''Atherigona oryzae'', the rice shoot fly, is a species of fly in the family Muscidae. It is found in Asia and Australia. It is known to affect rice, kodo millet ''Paspalum scrobiculatum'', commonly called Kodo millet or Koda millet,A. E. Gran ...

'', ''

Atherigona punctata ''Atherigona punctata'', the Coimbatore wheat stem fly, is a species of fly in the family Muscidae. In South India, it is a pest of the wheat plant, ''Triticum aestivum Common wheat (''Triticum aestivum''), also known as bread wheat, is a cu ...

'', ''

Atherigona ponti ''Atherigona ponti'' is a species of fly in the family Muscidae. It is a pest of millets. References

Muscidae Insect pests of millets {{Muscidae-stub ...

'', and '' Atherigona yorki'' *anthomyiid flies '' Delia arambourgi'' and '' Delia flavibasis'' (Ethiopia) ;Stem borers *lepidopteran borers: ''

Chilo partellus ''Chilo partellus'', the spotted stalk borer or spotted stem borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Charles Swinhoe in 1885. It is found in India, Pakistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Sudan, ...

'', ''

Chilo infuscatellus ''Chilo infuscatellus'', the yellow top borer or sugarcane shoot borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by the Dutch entomologist Samuel Constantinus Snellen van Vollenhoven in 1890. It is found in India, Myanmar, Tajikistan, ...

'', '' Sesamia calamistis'', '' Sesamia cretica'', ''

Sesamia inferens ''Sesamia inferens'', the Asiatic pink stem borer, gramineous stem borer, pink borer, pink rice borer, pink rice stem borer, pink stem borer, purple borer, purple stem borer or purplish stem borer, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species ...

'', ''

Diatraea grandiosella The southwestern corn borer, ''Diatraea grandiosella'', is a moth belonging to the sub-order Heterocera. Like most moths, The southwestern corn borer undergoes complete metamorphosis developing as an egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and adult. It ...

'', ''

Coniesta ignefusalis ''Coniesta ignefusalis'', the pearl millet stem-borer, is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by George Hampson in 1919. Distribution ''Coniesta ignefusalis'' is found throughout the West African Sahel, including in Senegal, Mali, ...

'', ''

Busseola fusca ''Busseola fusca'' is a species of moth that is also known as the maize stalk borer. It is known from Ethiopia. The wingspan is 35–40 mm. Adults are pale brown. The caterpillars are light or dark violet to pinkish white and about 1 to 2 � ...

'', ''

Eldana saccharina ''Eldana'' is a genus of moths of the family Pyralidae containing only one species, the African sugar-cane borer (''Eldana saccharina''), which is commonly found in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and South Africa. Adults hav ...

'', ''

Ostrinia furnacalis ''Ostrinia furnacalis'' is a species of moth in the family Crambidae, the grass moths. It was described by Achille Guenée in 1854 and is known by the common name Asian corn borer since this species is found in Asia and feeds mainly on corn crop ...

'', and ''

Ostrinia nubilalis The European corn borer (''Ostrinia nubilalis''), also known as the European corn worm or European high-flyer, is a moth of the family Crambidae which includes other grass moths. It is a pest of grain, particularly maize (''Zea mays''). The in ...

'' ;Leaf feeders *lepidopteran caterpillars: '' Amsacta moorei'', '' Mythimna loreyi'', ''

Mythimna separata ''Mythimna separata'', the northern armyworm, oriental armyworm or rice ear-cutting caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in China, Japan, South-east Asia, India, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and some Pacific islands. It ...

'', ''

Cnaphalocrocis medinalis ''Cnaphalocrocis medinalis'', the rice leafroller, is a species of moth of the family Crambidae. It is found in south-east Asia, including Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and most of Australia. The wingspan is about . The larvae are con ...

'', ''

Cnaphalocrocis patnalis ''Cnaphalocrocis patnalis'' is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by John David Bradley in 1981. It is found in south-east Asia, where it has been recorded from Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The larvae f ...

'', ''

Spodoptera exigua The beet armyworm or small mottled willow moth (''Spodoptera exigua'') is one of the best-known agriculture, agricultural pest insects. It is also known as the asparagus fern caterpillar. It is native to Asia, but has been introduced Cosmopolitan ...

'', ''

Spodoptera frugiperda The fall armyworm (''Spodoptera frugiperda'') is a species in the order Lepidoptera and one of the species of the fall armyworm moths distinguished by their larval life stage. The term "armyworm" can refer to several species, often describing the ...

'', ''

Spodoptera mauritia ''Spodoptera mauritia'', the lawn armyworm or paddy swarming caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1833. Able to eat many types of food, it is a major pest throughout the w ...

'', ''

Autoba silicula ''Autoba silicula'' is a species of moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be appr ...

'' *grasshoppers: ''

Diabolocatantops axillaris ''Diabolocatantops axillaris'' is a grasshopper species in the subfamily Catantopinae and tribe Catantopini. It is found in Africa. It is a pest of the pearl millet in the West African Sahel,Reynolds, D., & Riley, J. (1988). A migration of grass ...

'', ''

Hieroglyphus banian ''Hieroglyphus banian'' is a species of grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is a pest of millets such as sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet in India. References

Acrididae Insect pests of millets {{Acrididae-stub ...

'', '' Hieroglyphus daganensis'', '' Oedaleus senegalensis'', and ''

Schistocerca gregaria The desert locust (''Schistocerca gregaria'') is a species of locust, a periodically swarming, short-horned grasshopper in the family Acrididae. They are found primarily in the deserts and dry areas of northern and eastern Africa, Arabia, and sou ...

'' ;Sucking pests *bugs: '' Blissus leucopterus'', ''

Nysius niger ''Nysius niger'' is a species of true bug in the family Lygaeidae. It is a pest of millets in the Americas. References niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesCicadulina mbila ''Cicadulina mbila'', the maize leafhopper, is a leafhopper species in the genus '' Cicadulina''. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda), the Middle East, West Asia and India. It is one of the vectors of the maize strea ...

'', '' Cicadulina storeyi'', and '' Pyrilla perpusilla'' *aphids: ''

Rhopalosiphum maidis ''Rhopalosiphum maidis'', common names corn leaf aphid and corn aphid, is an insect, and a pest of maize and other crops. It has a nearly worldwide distribution and is typically found in agricultural fields, grasslands, and forest-grassland zon ...

'', ''

Sitobion miscanthi The Indian grain aphid (''Sitobion miscanthi''), also known as ''Sitobion (Sitobion) miscanthi'', is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from cereal, cereal plants, making it a pest of wh ...

'', and '' Hyalopterus pruni'' ;Other pests *beetle '' Chiloloba acuta'' *millet midge ''

Geromyia penniseti ''Geromyia penniseti'', the millet grain midge, is a species of gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is found in Africa and South Asia. During the rainy season, it feeds on the developing grains of pearl millet Pearl millet (''Cenchrus ...

'' *'' Euproctis'' spp., ''

Orvasca subnotata ''Orvasca subnotata'' is a nygmiine tussock moth in the family Erebidae, found in Indomalaya The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of E ...

'', and ''

Helicoverpa armigera ''Helicoverpa armigera'' is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Noctuidae. It is known as the cotton bollworm, corn earworm, Old World (African) bollworm, or scarce bordered straw (the lattermost in the UK, where it is a migrant). The larvae f ...

'' *''

Spodoptera exempta The African armyworm (''Spodoptera exempta''), also called ''okalombo'', ''kommandowurm'', or nutgrass armyworm, is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. The larvae often exhibit marching behavior when traveling to feeding sites, leading t ...

'', ''

Spilarctia obliqua ''Spilosoma obliqua'', the jute hairy caterpillar or Bihar hairy caterpillar, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in south-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Subspecies *''Spilarctia obliqua ...

'', ''

Pachnoda interrupta ''Pachnoda interrupta'', commonly known as the sorghum chafer, is a species of beetle of the family Scarabaeidae and subfamily Cetoniinae. Description This species can reach a body length of about . It is very variable in colour, from dappled ye ...

'', ''

Phyllophaga ''Phyllophaga'' is a very large genus (more than 900 species) of New World scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Common names for this genus and many other related genera in the subfamily Melolonthinae are May beetles, June bugs, and Jul ...

'' spp., '' Thrips hawaiiensis'', '' Myllocerus'' spp., and '' Peregrinus maidis'' *''

Holotrichia consanguinea ''Holotrichea consanguinea'', also known as the sugarcane beetle, is a beetle belonging to the genus '' Holotrichia''. It causes frequent problems for sugarcane growers in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a cou ...

'' and ''

Holotrichia serrata ''Holotrichia serrata'', commonly known as the sugarcane white grub, or cockchafer grub, is a species of Melolonthinae, dung beetle found in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Description Adult female beetles lay white, almost round eggs. The fi ...

'' *''

Tribolium castaneum The red flour beetle (''Tribolium castaneum'') is a species of beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles. It is a worldwide pest of stored products, particularly food grains, and a model organism for ethological and food safety ...

Africa

The larvae of several insect species, primarily belonging to the orders

Coleoptera Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

Diptera Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

, and

Hemiptera Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...

, as well as

Orthoptera Orthoptera () is an order of insects that comprises the grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets, including closely related insects, such as the bush crickets or katydids and wētā. The order is subdivided into two suborders: Caelifera – grassho ...

adults, are persistent pearl millet pests in the

Sahel The Sahel (; ar, ساحل ' , "coast, shore") is a region in North Africa. It is defined as the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a hot semi-arid c ...

. The following pest species are reported for northern Mali. *''

'' (pearl millet stem-borer; Lepidoptera,

Crambidae The Crambidae are the grass moth family of lepidopterans. They are variable in appearance, the nominal subfamily Crambinae (grass moths) taking up closely folded postures on grass stems where they are inconspicuous, while other subfamilies includ ...

) attacks pearl millet, and also sorghum and maize, especially in the Sahel. It is the main pearl millet pest in

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

. *''

Heliocheilus albipunctella ''Heliocheilus albipunctella'', the millet head miner moth, is a moth in the family Noctuidae. It is found in the Sahelian region of West Africa. Life cycle The flight period of the adult moth coincides with the peak of millet panicle emergence ...

'' (pearl millet head-miner; Lepidoptera,

Noctuidae The Noctuidae, commonly known as owlet moths, cutworms or armyworms, are a family of moths. They are considered the most controversial family in the superfamily Noctuoidea because many of the clades are constantly changing, along with the other f ...

) attacks pearl millet. The larvae bore in a spiral path, destroying florets or grain. *''

'' (millet grain midge): The larvae eat the developing grain and form white pupal cases attached to the tips of spikelets. Reported losses in Senegal are as high as 90 percent. *''

'' (millet beetle) *'' Psalydolytta fusca'' and '' Psalydolytta vestita'' (pearl millet blister beetle; Coleoptera,

Meloidae Blister beetles are beetles of the family Meloidae, so called for their defensive secretion of a blistering agent, cantharidin. About 7,500 species are known worldwide. Many are conspicuous and some are aposematically colored, announcing their ...

) attack pearl millet. They are major millet pests in Mali. *'' Rhinyptia infuscata'' (Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae,

Anomalini Anomalini is a tribe of shining leaf chafers in the family Scarabaeidae. There are about 1300 described species in Anomalini worldwide, including 60 in North America. Selected genera * '' Anomala'' Samouelle, 1819 * '' Anomalacra'' Casey, 1915 ...

) is a nocturnal beetle, recorded as a locally important pest on millet flowers in

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesSenegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

, and as a pest on maize, where the larvae attack the roots. *'' Sesamia calamistis'' (pink stem borer), especially in lowland forests. This species and the sugarcane borer (''

'') are the primary pests of the pearl millet in

Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital is Yamoussoukro, in the centre of the country, while its largest city and economic centre is ...

. *

gall midge Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls. Cecidomyiidae are very fragile small insects us ...

s (Diptera,

Cecidomyiidae Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls. Cecidomyiidae are very fragile small insects usu ...

): millet grain midge (''

''), sorghum midge ('' Contarinia sorghicola''), and African rice gall midge (''

Orseolia oryzivora ''Orseolia oryzivora'', also called the African rice gall midge, is a species of small fly in the family Cecidomyiidae. It is a major insect pest of rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ...

''). *'' Dysdercus volkeri'' (cotton-stainer; Hemiptera,

Pyrrhocoridae Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. Many are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible yellow-brownish stain on c ...

) attacks flowers. Grasshoppers that frequently attack millets in the

Dogon country Dogon country (French: ''Pays Dogon'') is a region of eastern Mali and northwestern Burkina Faso populated mainly by the Dogon people, a diverse ethnic group in West Africa with diverse languages. Like the term Serer country occupied by the Sere ...

of Mali are '' Oedaleus senegalensis'', '' Kraussaria angulifera'', ''

Cataloipus cymbiferus ''Cataloipus cymbiferus'' is a West African species of grasshopper in the family Acrididae. In Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, ita ...

'', and ''

''. In northern Ghana, ''

Poophilus costalis ''Poophilus costalis'' is a species of true bug in the family Aphrophoridae. It is a pest of millets in West Africa.Tanzubil, Paul B. & Emmanuel A. Yakubu (1997). Insect pests of millet in Northern Ghana. 1. Farmers' perceptions and damage potent ...

'' (spittle bug) is reported as a millet pest, as well as '' Dysdercus volkeri'', ''

'', ''

'', and caterpillars of '' Amsacta moloneyi'' and ''

''. In northern Nigeria, heavy infestations of ''

Hycleus ''Hycleus'' is a genus of blister beetle belonging to the Meloidae family found in Africa and Asia. The genus contains over 400 species, which historically have been confused with the genus ''Mylabris''. Ecology Adults feed mainly on flowers f ...

'' species, including '' Hycleus terminatus'' (syn. ''

Mylabris afzelli ''Mylabris'' is a genus of beetles in the family Meloidae. It is endemic to the Palearctic realm. The species-rich genus '' Hycleus'' (c. 430 spp.) was historically confused with ''Mylabris''. It is superficially similar, but is centered on the A ...

''), '' Hycleus fimbriatus'' (syn. '' Mylabris fimbriatus''), '' Hycleus hermanniae'' (syn. '' Coryna hermanniae''), and '' Hycleus chevrolati'' (syn. '' Coryna chevrolati''), have affected early plantings of pearl millet crops.

Other regions

In South India, pests include the shoot fly '' Atherigona approximata''. In North America, regular pests include the chinch bug '' Blissus leucopterus''.Wilson, J. P., B. Ouendeba, and W. W. Hanna. 2008. Diallel analysis of chinch bug damage to pearl millet. ''International Sorghum Millets Newsletter'' 41: 78–79.

References

{{reflist
Common Names of Diseases, The American Phytopathological Society

Pearl millet Pearl millet (''Cenchrus americanus'', commonly known as the synonym ''Pennisetum glaucum''; also known as 'Bajra' in Hindi, 'Sajje' in Kannada, 'Kambu' in Tamil, 'Bajeer' in Kumaoni and 'Maiwa' in Hausa, 'Mexoeira' in Mozambique) is the most w ...

Bacterial diseases

Fungal diseases

Viral diseases

Nematodes, parasitic

Insects

Africa

Other regions

See also

References