Survival of dislodged sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), adults and nymphs was studied in pots with four soil moisture treatments: (1) 25% moisture; (2) 25% moisture + spray (30 ml distilled water every 2 minutes); (3) flooded; and (4) dry. Survival of M. sacchari in treatments 1-4 was 67, 38, 8, and 59%, respectively. Survival of adults was significantly greater than nymphs in treatments 2 and 4, with no difference in treatments 1 and 2. Maximum M. sacchari walking speed averaged 9.5 mm per minute; regardless of soil condition, walking speed did not differ significantly between adults and nymphs, but aphids were slowest on dry soil. This study suggested that dislodged M. sacchari aphids can return and reinfest plants, even at the worst scenario with floods.