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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
July 5, 2001 |
Cotton continues to grow rapidly, with many fields near bloom. Growers with pivots are in the process of watering if not previously watered. A few scattered showers have been reported over the area, but rainfall amounts have not been significant enough to delay irrigations. Cotton aphids have been found in many more fields this past week and counts of 25 to 50 per leaf have been reported. Lady beetle larvae are abundant in these fields and have the ability of maintaining infestations below threshold as we observed in 1999. Shiny leaves and curling of terminal leaves is one of the first signs of this pest that is noticed in cotton. Furadan 4F® has again been issued a Section 18 for the 2001 season for aphid control. Also Centric® and high rates of Bidrin® will also provide control. For cotton aphid control coverage of plant surface is critical. Application of 3 to 5 gallons total volume is preferred by aerial applications and 10 to 15 gallons per acre with a ground rig.
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The
section 18 for Furadan® has been amended this year. The portion
which read "only those acres that can provide documentation of
treatment failures attributed to resistance or in the absence of such
documentation, growers are allowed to use flowable carbofuran only if
application of a recommended aphicide has failed (less 80% control)
and aphid populations have again reached the treatment threshold"
has been dropped. This means we will not have to be delayed by waiting
for documented failures before we can use Furadan.® Also the Texas
Department of Agriculture does not need to approve the use of Furadan®
by Texas Agriculture Extension Service districts as was required in
the past. The rate for aphid control remains the same as in past at
8 oz. Furadan® per acre and a maximum of 2 applications. It must
be applied in at least 5 gallons of finished spray per acre by air or
10 gallons by ground application. No one may enter into treated fields
within 48 hours of application. Field workers may not enter treated
fields for 14 days without wearing coveralls, chemical resistant gloves,
shoes and socks. For additional restrictions please refer to the FMC
label .
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| Cotton
fleahoppers continue to be reported in many area cotton fields. Nymph
counts are on the increase which means we now have reproduction in the
field. In general "Lygus bugs" have been more abundant
than fleahoppers this year. When sampling for plant bugs most of the nymphs
observed have been Lygus nymphs. Fleahopper nymphs and lygus nymphs look
very similar to each other. The fleahopper nymphs tend to be pale green
in 2nd and 3rd instar stages and almost translucent white in the 1st instar.
The lygus bugs are a brighter green color and their long antennae are
easier to see than that of the fleahopper. In the adult stage the lygus
bug (1/4") is twice the length of the cotton fleahopper (1/8").
Boll weevils remain very light at this time. If this trend continues we will be off to a great start for the Boll Weevil Eradication program in September. Beet armyworms remain light at this time with an occasional larvae found while scouting. Beneficials are
the best we have had in several years in early season cotton. Crab
spiders are very abundant with one to two spiders per plant in some
fields. It has not been uncommon to see crab spiders feeding on Lygus
nymphs and fleahopper adults. Nabids or damsel bugs are
also very abundant for this early in the season. The Nabids are excellent
predators on beet armyworm. The early widespread infestations of beet
armyworms 3 weeks ago may be the reason for high predator counts now.
Pirate bugs and big eyed bugs are present in cotton, but
constitute only a small portion of the total beneficial complex at this
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Fields sampled in the Edmonson area on July 3 had about 50% of the southwestern corn borer population in the pupal stage. Bt corn is resistant to this pest and should not have a problem. Western corn rootworm damage was observed at Halfway on June 29. Root damage and "goose-necked corn" was observed and some foliage feeding by adults was seen. Dr. Pat Porter recorded the damage with a digital camera and will have the videos on the Lubbock web site in the future. (http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ipm/)
Corn aphids are abundant in whorl stage sorghum. Greenbugs are increasing, but most colonies are very small.
Sincerely, Greg Cronholm  Posted at this web site by: texagnet Internet Services.
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| Educational
programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people
of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion,
handicap or national origin. The information given herein is for educational
purposes only. References to comercial products or trade names is made
with the understanding that no discrimination is intedned and no endorsement
by the cooperative Extension is implied. The
Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the
County Commissioners Courts of Texas
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