Shoot Fly

Shoot fly (Atherigona soccata / Atherigona oryzae) is a major pest attacking young seedling stages of crops, particularly maize, rice, and sorghum. Damage is caused by larvae maggot feeding on the central growing point inside the young stem, resulting in the characteristic "deadheart" symptom where the central shoot wilts and dries up. The affected inner leaf easily pulls out, leading to seedling mortality or severely stunted and tillered growth.