Search

There were 9,149,200 acres of U.S. Cotton (Upland and Pima) planted and 7,690,500 acres harvested with an average of 774 pounds of lint per acre (USDA -- January 2010 report) in 2009. Arthropod pests of cotton reduced yield by 2.58% in 2009. Thrips were ranked number one at 0.713% loss. Lygus (0.614%) were 2nd in losses. The bollworm/budworm complex reduced yields by 0.486%. The bollworm was the predominant species to attack cotton in 2009. Bollworms were estimated to make up 79% of the population Stink bugs (0.371%) were 4th and fall armyworms (0.113%) were 5th. Beltwide, direct insect management costs amounted to $43.33 acre. Cost plus loss is estimated at $502 million. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bollworms develop on many hosts, with each generation likely to use a different host. Pyrethroid insecticides are typically used to control bollworms in cotton as well as in numerous other crops that are attacked by this insect. Therefore, selection for pyrethroid resistance within the landscape is potentially great even though there may not be much selection pressure in any single environment. Pheromone traps were monitored from May to September during 2007, 2008 and 2009 to collect male moths that were then tested for resistance to a pyrethroid insecticide. Average survival at 5 µg/vial of cypermethrin over the three years was 16.3%, with Louisiana, Texas and Virginia exceeding 20% average survival. Average survival was higher in all states when compared to 1998 data. Survival during July and August is higher than survival in May or September. Carbon isotope analysis indicates that most of these mid- summer moths developed as larvae on grasses, most likely corn and sorghum. Monitoring will continue in the future to document the impact of newer transgenic corn varieties that are more toxic to bollworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tarnished plant bug (TPB) is a major pest of cotton throughout the midsouthern region of the United States. Research was conducted during the squaring period from 2006 to 2008 in all 5 states of the Midsouth to evaluate thresholds in the current production environment. These data show that costs associated with TPB are minimized when average TPB density is 8 per 100 sweeps and when average square retention is 90%. Existing thresholds of 8 TPB per 100 sweeps and square retention of 80% are supported by these data and should be retained. More aggressive management resulted in both reduced yield and higher control costs and should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There were 7.755,000 acres of U.S. Cotton (Upland and Pima) harvested with an average of 810 pounds of lint per acre (USDA -January 2009 report) in 2008. Arthropod pests of cotton reduced yield by 3.80% in 2008. Lygus reduced yields by 1.003% attaining losses greater than all other pests. The bollworm /budworm complex were second at 0.764%. The bollworm was the predominant heliothine species to attack cotton in 2008. Bollworms were estimated to make up 76% of the population Stink bugs (0.747%) were 3rd and Thrips (0.5167%) were 4th. Cotton fleahoppers (0.231%) rounded out the top five cotton arthropod pests for the year. Beltwide, direct insect management costs amounted to $55.53 acre. Cost plus loss is estimated at $543 million. (see M.R. Williams, this proceedings). a [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There were 10,492,200 acres of U.S. Cotton harvested with an average of 871 pounds of lint per acre (USDA -January 2008 report) in 2007. Arthropod pests of cotton reduced yield by 3.62% in 2007. The bollworm/budworm complex reduced yields by 0.913%. The bollworm was the predominant species to attack cotton in 2007. Bollworms were estimated to make up 92% of the population Lygus (0.683%) were 2nd in losses. Thrips (0.578%) , cotton fleahoppers (0.477) were 3rd and aphids (0.320%) were 4th. Stink bugs (0.274%) rounded out the top five cotton arthropod pests for the year. Beltwide, direct insect management costs amounted to $57.23 acre. Cost plus loss is estimated at $877 million. (see M.R. Williams, this proceedings). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "A MidSouthern Perspective on Hemipteran Pests," by Ralph D. Bagwell, B. R. Leonard, Fred Musser, Angus Catchot, D. R. Cook, Scott D. Stewart, Kelly V. Tindall, Glenn Studebaker, D. Scott Akin and Gus M. Lorenz is presented.

Trials were conducted in 2005 to determine the effectiveness of new and existing chemistries in controlling the tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris. Two early-season trials were conducted, but no differences in treatments were observed due to a lack of TPB pressure. In mid-to-late season trials, industry standards such as acephate (Orthene), dicrotophos (Bidrin), oxamyl (Vydate), thiamethoxam (Centric), and imidacloprid (Trimax) provided adequate control of TPB. Newer chemistries such as novaluron (Diamond) and flonicamid (Carbine), along with numbered compounds, provided various levels of control of TPB in these mid-to-late season trials. Enhanced control was also observed by tank-mixing pyrethroids with other compounds such as organophosphates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed treatments, in-furrow insecticides and foliar-applied insecticides were tested to determine effectiveness in controlling thrips populations. Seed treatments such as thiamethoxam (Cruiser), thiamethoxam plus abamectin (Avicta), imidacloprid (Gaucho Grande), and experimental compounds such as A97565N, KC791230, and STP 15273 provided control equal to that of aldicarb (Temik). Foliar treatments, seed treatments, and in-furrow insecticides provided varying levels of control of thrips populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of various thrips insecticide trials are summarized. These tests were performed on seedling cotton by the University of Tennessee or the University of Arkansas. At-planting treatments, including in-furrow granular, infurrow sprays, and seed treatments, were evaluated. These tests are designed to determine the efficacy and impact of various thrips insecticide treatments on thrips numbers, plant growth and development, and yield. In some tests, in-furrow granular treatments (i.e., Temik) provided longer residual control of thrips compared with seed treatments. However, our results suggest that standard at-planting thrips treatments performed comparably in terms of protecting yield in most growing environments. A comparison of foliar insecticide applications for thrips is also included. Some of these treatments (e.g., dimethoate) have the potential to cause chemical burning of leaves, and this was apparent in our testing. The herbicide Dual Magnum had a similar effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]