author(s)
Akshatha S, Karabhantanal SS and Jagginavar SB

abstract
Sorghum shoot bug, Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead) is one of the major sucking insect pests in rabi season, can able to cause direct loss by sucking nature of adults and nymphs from leaves, leaf sheaths and stem during exploratory feeding and indirect damage is by transmitting sorghum stripe virus disease and excretion of honey-dew, encourages sooty mould development resulted in reduction of both quality and quantity of plant biomass. Keeping these points in view, the present investigation was carried out at the Research Farm of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapura, Karnataka, India during rabi, 2019-20 to assess the sorghum yield loss due to the shoot bug, P. maidis under filed condition on three varieties. Results revealed that significantly highest per cent loss in grain and fodder yield of 24.25 and 33.28 over cage control was recorded in highly susceptible variety (Hathi kunta) as compared to 21.99 and 26.43 per cent in moderately susceptible variety (M 35-1) and 12.98 and 20.99 per cent in resistant variety (Y-75), respectively. The untreated control plot recorded highest per cent of avoidable loss of 31.85 and 33.53 per cent in grain and fodder yield, respectively, which was statistically equivalent to release of 20 shoot bugs per plant (25.98 & 37.24%, respectively). On the contrary, in complete control plot with calendar-based sprays treatment recorded significantly lowest avoidable loss of grain (4.93%) and fodder yield (19.25%), which was superior to rest of the treatments.