HEAT UNIT ACCUMULATION UPDATE

As of June 20, 2002:

COTTON GROWTH: Program fields range from seedling to seven true leaf (pin-head square) with plant populations ranging from "thin" to 48,000 plants per acre. Damaged cotton that was left because it didn't qualify for insurance will probably get thinner over the next week or so with hot, dry winds and sand- blasting effects experienced lately.

INSECT PROBLEMS:
Cotton is suffering less overall from thrips infestations due to better growing conditions and growth dilution effects of cotton over the entire area. Newly emerged cotton will still need to be scouted closely every three to four days and treated for infestations as needed . As mentioned previously, if the thrips population in your field seems to be reproducing (presence of adults and young is verified), and if true leaves are showing feeding damage, and an average of 1 thrips/true leaf is noted, justification certainly exists for foliar applied treatment up to the pin-head square stage. Theoretically, thrips can damage early fruit and cause fruit shed in heavy infestations.Generally, they will not be a problem that late and will serve as beneficial food after the 4-6 true leaf stage.

REPEAT: Grasshoppers have been noted from southern counties of the High Plains - field margins are very susceptible at this time with pastures and border areas drying down. Should "hoppers" become a problem and the wind subsides long enough to apply an insecticide, use of organophosphate products listed below are recommended in the High Plains cotton guide:

Infestations of grasshoppers in our area are spotty and not as wide-spread or intense as further south and west of the Crosby/Floyd locale.

FIELD RESEARCH in pumpkins has resumed with replanting of squash trap-crop trials and initial planting of two pumpkin disease susceptibility plots in Floyd County. Thanks to Hulon and Gary Carthel and Jon Jones for seed and land area to facilitate these tests.

Bollworm, budworm and beet armyworm traps have captured:

These are week-long samples, and at this time, numbers are insignificant to cause concern.

Boll Weevil trapping by the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation (TBWEF) has shown a decrease in numbers with only 0.002 to 0.005 weevils per trap in our High Plains zones as of June 16, 2002.

REPEAT: TBWEF has issued a press 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 and in this case, savings to growers is readily visible and directly dependant upon self-participation by those same growers.

AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES (AHB) have been confirmed in Crosby County. This information ultimately means an assessment of fees for testing of commercial hives for genetic "European traits" for those hives brought into Crosby County with the intent of removal at the end of the growing season.

Mr. Baxter (the bee inspector from Corsicana) assures that commercial bee-keepers have been made aware of this and will take the news in stride. An additional sample was taken this week from an abandoned house in the Owen Community and another was submitted by Edwin Moore from a swarm found on a backhoe.

From the "people" aspect, there is little concern unless you are in the vicinity of an established hive which may be in an old abandoned home or barn or any other area of little use at this time of year. AHB are known to be very protective of their established hives and will defend said hive "en masse". Little children, favored pets and other small animals will need to be monitored closely especially if suspected hives are in the residential areas or communities. If you even suspect the presence of a hive, refrain from upsetting the potential problem but please report this incident to proper authorities. In our area, there are very few resources to eliminate these problem hives. If anyone knows of a possible solution, please contact this office.

The scouting program is off to a somewhat-expected slow start but we are currently scouting a representative number of fields and finding levels of thrips as reported earlier. Earlier cotton that has survived the wind, heavy rain, hail or drought will be squaring almost immediately which necessitates that young fruit will need to be monitored closely for fleahopper presence and the possibility of Lygus bugs in the very near future. The presence of these insects coupled with a square set of less than 90% during the first week of squaring is an indicator that treatment is advised. Please refer to Cotton Guides, E-6, Managing Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas and E-6A, Suggested Insecticides for Managing Cotton Insects in the High Plains of Texas, both available electronically and at your local County Extension Office. Information included herein will be helpful in decision-making for these elusive pests and others as the season progresses.

BENEFICIAL INSECTS and spiders, as reported last week, are building in small cotton.

There is still room for additional acreage in the Crosby/Floyd IPM program for cotton, pumpkins, sorghum or any other commodity grown in the area. Please call the office or mobile numbers if you have questions. Thanks to all those who are currently participating in our program.

Steve Davis
Extension Agent-IPM
Crosby/Floyd Counties

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