GENERAL SITUATION: This was another hot and dry week. Temperatures were in the upper 90's during the day and upper 70's and low 80's at night. The next ten days or so are predicted to be just like this week. Some of the western most crops were being hurt by the droughty conditions, but the other areas were doing ok. That is not to say that rain would not be welcome, because it would. No one would turn down a 1-4 inch rain right now. But, the deep soil moisture has held the crops in good stead, so far. No signs of the kind of drought which killed cotton and grain sorghum by mid-May, 2002, have been witnessed to date in most areas of the LRGV. We still have some time left before the crops will stop progressing and reach the kind of scenario experienced last year. Insect activity increased.

More Weevils

Boll weevils increased in both numbers and fields infested this week. Punctured square counts ranged from 0 to 6 per 100 plants. Some insecticide treatments for in-season weevils were initiated late last week in a few fields.

Budworms Join Bollworms

Bollworms and tobacco budworms were reported in scattered fields this week. Egg-carrying moths of both species were observed in a few fields in Cameron county and could be in other counties as well. Worm counts ranged 0 to 2 per 100 plants. Egg counts ranged from 0 to 4 per 100 plants.

Spider Mites Like Dry Weather

Several reports of spider mites being sprayed in a few fields was received this week. Spider mites were observed in scattered fields in all Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties this week in very low numbers in most fields. Most of the infestations reported were near field margins, but in some situations they required treating. Mites could continue to increase should the current hot and dry weather pattern remain in place for the next several weeks. Rainfall now would help alleviate some of the mite problem.

Aphids Still in Cotton

Aphids were light in most fields, but did appear to be increasing in some fields. Beneficial insects and spiders were present in all fields observed this week, but fields which already have been sprayed for in-season boll weevils need to be watched carefully for increasing aphids and spider mites.