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Texas Agricultural Extension Service The Texas A&M University System Plains Pest Management Newsletter |
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News about Integrated Pest Management in Hale-Swisher Counties. Greg Cronholm, Extension Agent - IPM, 122 East 6th, P.O. Box 680, Plainview, TX., 79073-0680, 806-291-5273 |
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Web Site: http://entowww.tamu.edu |
E-Mail:
g-cronholm@tamu.edu
May 18, 2001 |
The High Plains Scout Training Conference has been scheduled for Friday June 1 at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview. We will cover cotton, corn, sorghum, sunflower and soybean. Emphasis will be on crop pest identification which will also include weeds and diseases. We have requested 5 CEU's from TDA for those that have pesticide applicator licenses. Attached is an agenda of the program.
Beet armyworms rarely infest corn, but this year infestations have been reported in Lamb, Hale and Castro Counties. Dr. Phil Sloderbeck has also reported infestations in southwest Kansas. This means that probably all areas between here and there have a potential for infestation. We have very little information about beet armyworms in corn, but expect their behavior and damage to whorl stage corn to be similar to fall armyworm. The beet armyworm is much more difficult to control than fall with registered insecticides. |
Early reports of control attempts by aerial application have been failures. It is very difficult to get enough pesticide into the whorl area to control the beets. I would suggest applications by ground rig with a hollow cone nozzle directed over the top of the row in a 7 to 9 inch band. Lorsban and Lannate are labeled for use on corn and have armyworms or beet armyworms listed on the label. As I indicated earlier we have no threshold in corn , although we do in sorghum for fall armyworm whorl feeding. If foliage feeding exceeds 30% then control may be justified. I think this would work well for corn. One other concern we have is if very young corn is attacked there is a potential for damage to the growing point. This should be a consideration. Beet armyworms and armyworms in general have many predators and parasites which can impact larval populations dramatically. One should weigh their importance before treating for beets. Also by treating for beets we open the door for a potential early infestation of Banks grass mites, which could be costly. Bt corn can suppress beet armyworm populations, but it will not provide complete control. In general, current Bt corns have been |
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somewhat weak on the armyworm complex. We also saw this last year where beet armyworms were found infesting Bt cotton. This means that Bt corns should also be scouted for beet armyworm infestations.
Alfalfa weevil infestations were reported to be very heavy this spring and a few fields had extensive damage.
The diamond back moth was the pest that was found feeding on mustards in late April. No further infestations have been reported.
A major moth flight occurred last week. The predominate moth was the bi-lobed looper. Also accompanying it were cabbage loopers and alfalfa loopers. We have also observed a few true armyworms and mesquite cutworms. This is also a very unusual occurrence to see this many moths so early in the year. Weevils are now emerging from overwintering habitat as noted by pheromone traps. |
Growers should place traps around their farms prior to squaring to monitor overwintering populations. More about this later.
Greg Cronholm  Posted at this web site by: texagnet Internet Services.
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