CORRECTIONS and CHANGES: First and foremost, it is necessary to correct two errors from last week's letter. Hopefully, no inconvenience resulted. John McKinley is one of our result demonstration technicians that you may see this summer. I misspelled his name last week and have really been hearing about it. At least I know some folks are reading my newsletter. The corrected e-mail address over the one I gave you last week is ipmcrosb@taexgw.tamu.edu for our IPM Office Manager, Avis Kirkendall. Again, hope these errors have not caused any problems. Thank you.

HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE

As of June 6, 2002:

INSECT PROBLEMS:
False chinch bugs and thrips were a problem in several places in both counties prior to Tuesday's onslaught of heavy rain and hail. After the water sub -sides and soil begins to dry out, these insects may be a pest again and will become damaging at lower population levels than before due to crop damage sustained. Several products are labeled for both these pests with Acephate seemingly the most popular, safest and with the shortest re-entry limit. It is compatible with Glyphosate products for weed control as well.

Cotton is suffering from thrips infestations as well as wind effects, compacted soils from driving rains and potential damage from sand fighters. If there are any true leaves exposed, cotton will need to be scouted closely and treated this week as ground dries out to allow ground rigs to run. Should the thrips be reproducing (presence of adults and young is verified), true leaves are showing feeding damage and an average of 1 thrips/true leaf is noted, justification certainly exists for foliar applied treatment. Most cotton is far enough behind after numerous adverse weather effects or replanting that additional setbacks from thrips will not be conducive to good production.

Grasshoppers have been noted from Gaines and Andrews Counties and some local "hot spots" along the edge of the ":Cap"-- field margins are very susceptible at this time with pastures and borders drying down with maturation of these winter plants.

FIELD RESEARCH is on hold with recent weather effects - more later after damage assessments are complete.

Bollworm, budworm and beet armyworm traps in all locations have sustained some sort of weather-related damage this week, therefore, trap numbers will not be reported until next week

Boll Weevil trapping by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) remains low with only 0.013 weevils per trap in our High Plains zone as of June 2, 2002. Most of these are out west but according to L.D. Clark at the Ralls office, some are local. But, with non-hostable cotton to feed on, are not considered a problem at this time.

TBWEF has issued a release regarding hailed-out cotton. Growers who destroy plants in weather-damaged fields, or who fail cotton for any other reason, by July 15 are eligible to receive a credit in the amount of their assessment provided they keep the fields free of hostable cotton until the first killing freeze. Cultural control is a very important part of Integrated Pest Management.

Pecan nut case bearer (PNCB) moth traps have been terminated for this year due to hail damaging the nutlets and potential fruit set.

Some suspected Africanized honey bees have been captured south of Ralls. More to follow as sample information is returned from College Station.

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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