CENTRAL shoot fly, Atherigona indica infuscata Emd., is a serious pest of sorghum in the Old World. It is extremely common in East Africa and has been recorded from Brachiaria brizantha1, Sorghum verticilliflorum, Eleusine coracana, Pennisetum typhoides, Zea mays2, as well as cultivated sorghums. The fly is a pest of the young seedlings, and causes severe damage to the growing point. This usually leads to tillering; these tillers may or may not escape subsequent attack. If the former, the only effect is to lengthen the maturation period; if the latter, yield may be seriously affected.