General Conditions: Program cotton fields for the two-county area are fair to poor due to lack of moisture accompanied by hot, dry conditions. Square shed is common with very little insect pressure to effectively reduce the fruiting process.

Boll Weevil Numbers : For some good news, weevils trapped this last week were fewer with even the "hot spots" showing a decrease. The large cotton acreage will be attracting them , however, traps around program fields and in historically high population areas are not catching alarming numbers. Plains Cotton Growers grid traps have decreased in southern Crosby County and maintained in northern Crosby and throughout Floyd County with average trap catches of 1 to 4 weevils for the week. Fields that are in the first two weeks of squaring still need to be scouted on regular intervals to alleviate damage from this pest.

Grasshoppers have been a problem on both sides of the "Canyon" in Crosby County with some fields being treated in the margins. Lubbers are extremely voracious feeders and will consume a large amount of plant material in a short time. Pasture borders that have new, succulent field crops emerging are highly susceptible when conditions exist as they are. Robert Carter, crop consultant, reports that these "hoppers" are moving into field margins as much as 600 ft. and are feeding primarily on lush, tender terminals of cotton. He also reports that producers are banding insecticide over the top and getting excellent control.

False Chinch Bugs are appearing in field margins as well but have not created a wide-spread problem. To the naked eye, the nymphs appear about the size of aphids but, when disturbed, move very rapidly. Nymphs have a rusty brown appearance with black antennae and wing pads in the older instars and adults are darker with clear wings when viewed under magnification. These pests are showing up throughout the High Plains but, to date, have not been of consequence.

Beet Armyworm Larvae are still being seen in young cotton, or at least where they were feeding on young leaves. Survival rates are very low to non-existent in program fields. BAW moth trap catches have decreased over the last week but the next peak egg-lay is a couple of weeks away. More on this as it develops.

Cotton Fleahoppers, Lygus Bugs, Cotton Aphids and Cotton Bollworms have all been reported from neighboring counties in program fields but all have been sub- economic to this point in most fields.

Beneficial Insects , especially "Crab Spiders", are in relatively high numbers. In some program fields they can be found in most plant terminals. Minute Pirate Bugs, Big-Eyed Bugs and Lady Beetles are not as numerous as desired, but the pest numbers are not high enough to maintain a significant population.