The importance of the gram pod borer, Helicoverpa (=Heliothis) armigera (Hiibner) and the earhead bug, Calocoris angustatus Lethierry in the sorghum panicle was assessed. Gram pod borer consumed 2. 364 g of dough stage grains from fourth instar to pupation. A total of 74. 50 grains were damaged during the complete larval period. Grain loss was 14. 32 and 29. 42 g respectively when 50 and 100 nymphs per panicle were confined. When the two species occurred together grain loss was more than the sum of the loss due to each species alone.

The intensity of damage to sorghum panicle caused by the sorghum earhead bug, Calocoris angustatus Lethierry (Heteroptera: Miridae) was studied under laboratory and field conditions. Laboratory studies showed that among the five nymphal instars, fourth instars consumed maximum food (5.06mg/day). In adults, the consumption was thrice that of the fourth instar nymphs. Male and female consumed on average 250.68 and 305.56 mg of food respectively from their second instar nymphal stage till their death. In the field, 1–3 days old panicles were preferred for oviposition when compared with panicles at later stages. Grain weight losses upto 31.54 g/panicle infested with three adults were recorded. Similarly the grain weight per panicle decreased as the number of ovipositing females increased; grain weight losses of 9.72–42.02 g were recorded.