A total of 13 species of shootflies from two genera,AtherigonaandAcritochaeta, were reared over a four-year period from a range of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars showing typical ‘dead heart’ symptoms.Atherigona soccataRond. was the dominant species (<99% of the flies reared), while the second most common species wasAcritochaeta orientalisSchin. An interesting record wasAtherigona eriochloaeMall. reared from tillers of ratooned sorghum. Three species as yet undescribed were recorded. More females than males were reared in the course of the study — the sex ratio was 1:1.27. It was concluded that onlyA. soccatais likely to be important when considering control of damage to sorghum by resistance breeding or the use of insecticides.