P.O. Box 318

Marty Jungman
Extension Agent-Pest Management
Office: 254/582-3551
Fax: 254/582-5512
Hillsboro, TX 76645
 May 24, 2001
Vol. VI No. 5
Hill-McLennan Counties
Web Site: entowww.tamu.edu
E-mail: m-jungman@tamu.edu

GENERAL SITUATION

The soil moisture conditions will range from adequate to wet. Corn and grain sorghum continue to make good progress with the exception of areas with excessive moisture. Corn will range in size from 12 inches tall to tasseling. Grain sorghum will vary from 4 inches tall to starting to head. Cotton growth stage will vary from just planted to 5 days from match head square.

CORN and GRAIN SORGHUM

Mexican corn rootworms were located in high numbers in a corn field close to Hillsboro. Severe root pruning and plant lodging was seen in this field. This particular situation was planted in four successive years in corn (4th year corn). Mexican corn rootworms are a problem in corn planted after corn. Producers should stay away from planting corn in the same field for three successive years and expect a greater chance of running into Mexican corn rootworm problems with fourth year corn.

This particular field had a light rate of soil insecticide applied in-furrow at planting. The labeled higher rates of soil insecticide are necessary for controlling this pest. Sometimes these higher rates may be limited in their control. Crop rotation is an important aspect in controlling this pest.

Greenbugs are being seen in light numbers in grain sorghum.

Yellow sugarcane aphids have been seen in very light numbers in a few area fields.

Corn leaf aphids are in light to heavy numbers in the whorls of milo. This aphid is not considered an economic problem.

COTTON

Cotton, in general, has grown off quickly. Percent square set, in the more advanced cotton, will range from 50-70%. I have noticed more terminal loss in some fields compared to other years. In past years, we have associated this with thrip damage. Thrips can cause this type of damage. However, on the older cotton thrip numbers were very light. Apparently, damage was caused by some other type of pest or environmental conditions.

Thrips numbers and damage will vary from light to heavy. We are starting to see more damage from thrips.

Cotton aphids, in general, are in light numbers. However, I have seen several fields with moderate numbers.
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Fleahopper numbers will range from 4-36 per 100 terminals. Fleahoppers appear to be the insect of most concern in cotton that has started to square. At this point, numbers will range from light to heavy. Next week I expect fleahopper numbers to be high in most fields that have not been recently treated with an insecticide. The economic threshold level is 15-25 per 100 terminals. Treatment should begin at 15 fleahoppers per 100 terminals.

Lygus bug numbers will range from 0-8 per 100 plants. In most fields numbers will vary from 0-4.

Grasshoppers are in high numbers in area pastures. Producers should start to monitor cotton next to pastures.

Overwintered boll weevil trap counts continue to be very light. In spite of these light numbers, I would urge all producers to apply 1-2 overwintered boll weevil applications for this pest.

OVERWINTERING BOLL WEEVIL
PHEROMONE TRAP CATCHES

AREA/PRODUCER
5/10
5/17
5/23
CHATT:
Delmer Sullins
1
0
0
Barney Pustejovsky
0
0
0
Joe Sinkule
0
0
0
ITASCA/COVINGTON
Loren Weaver
0
0
0
James Ray Schronk
0
0
0
BYNUM:
Leroy Walters
0
0
0
BRANDON:
Lanny Neil
0
0
0
Larry Degner
0
2
0
Aaron Walters
0
0
0
MALONE:
Satch Degner
0
0
0
Charles Trompler
5
1
0
Ronnie Radke
0
1
0
Rayford Schulze
0
0
0
Kenneth Machac
0
0
0
WEST/COTTONWOOD:
John C. Polansky *
*
*
0
Richard Holy
0
0
0
PENELOPE:
Thomas Holy
1
0
1
AQUILLA:
Ronnie Gerik #1
0
0
1
Ronnie Gerik #2
0
0
0
Dennis Gerik
0
0
0
* trap down
Beet armyworm trap counts are light to moderate. We are seeing a few beet armyworm larvae in cotton fields.

BEET ARMYWORM TRAP COUNT

 
2001
2000
 
5/9
18
271
5/16
40
156
5/22
46
65

(The cumulative average of two traps/week. Trap location is in the Chatt area.)


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