Infestations are more prevalent in areas where grain sorghum has been grown for several years and Johnsongrass is found. The Sorghum Plant Grain sorghum takes 55 to 65 days from emergence to blooming, and each head blooms for 4 to 9 days, with about 200 to 300 fresh blooms daily. The head blooms first in the top, and new blooms develop downward. There are approximately 500 to 1500 grains in each head in the field.
Midge damage occurs to the developing seed in the grain heads.
Timing and percent emergence in the spring are influenced by temperature, cultural practices, and several other factors. The edges of its wings appear fringed under magnification. The female lives one day, laying 30 to 120 eggs, singly, in the glume. About 90 percent of the eggs are laid during the four days following plant-head emergence. The life cycle of the midge requires about 14 to 18 days.