Diversity of Shoot Fly <i>Atherigona soccata</i> (Rondani) Infesting Sorghum in Southern Rajasthan

Extensive surveys for diversity of sorghum shoot fly Atherigona soccata were carried out during June-July in 30 blocks of seven districts of Southern Rajasthan during kharif 2022. The surveys revealed that dead heart formation ranged from 5.50 to 17.65% in seven districts with a mean of 11.20 and the mean number of eggs/ five plants ranged from 0.25 to 1.34 with a mean of 0.71. The diversity and species richness of A.soccata and other dipteran flies in southern Rajasthan reveals three species of Atherigona spp. viz., A.soccata, A. oryzae and A.delia and three other dipteran flies viz., Chloropidae spp., Lonchaeidae spp. and Platystomatid spp. The value of both Shannon Weiner and Simpsons Index was highest for Pratapgarh district with value of 1.21 and 2.73, respectively.