Pest Cast

Volume XXVII No. 15

June 28, 2002

Nation's First Bale Picked, Sorghum Harvest Begins

GENERAL SITUATION: This week was one of mixed weather. Mostly hot and dry until Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday's showers were very spotty with up to 2 inches falling principally in small areas in eastern Willacy and Cameron counties. Thursday's rain was just along the coast of Cameron and Willacy county with only very light scattered showers just across the inland side of the bay. More rain was predicted for late Friday morning and afternoon and Saturday. The majority of the Valley did not receive any significant rain this week. Insect activity remained relatively light with boll weevils being the only serious threat in a some cotton fields.

Dry Weather and Open Bolls

Many more open bolls of cotton were noted this week, even in some of the more mature irrigated fields. Most fields of irrigated cotton were making good progress, but still were showing signs of "early retirement". Fruit set was about over in many fields with nodes above white flower ranging from 0 to 6. Irrigations on many fields was near completed for the season due to either running out of irrigation or fields beyond help from additional water.

Weevils Looking for a Home

Boll weevils were increasing in some fields. Indications of weevil movement from mature fields to less mature fields was in evidence. One field report form the mid Valley area indicated adult weevil counts were in excess of 40 adults per 100 plants. However, the field(s) were very mature with only a few squares left in which weevils could lay eggs or feed. Thus, small bolls were the target. Large weevil movement and other activity was likely being repeated in some other fields around the LRGV and that activity will increase as time progresses to defoliation over the next several weeks.

Worms Not a Threat, Yet

Bollworm activity remained light again this week. Egg counts ranged from 0 to 5 per 100 plants and worms from 0 to 2 per 100 plants.

Cabbage Loopers

Cabbage loopers were increasing slightly in some fields. Generally, loopers are not a serious threat to cotton in the LRGV, but can lead to increased defoliation difficulties if they become too heavy.

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PEST CAST continued

Silverleaf Whiteflies Remain in the News

Silverleaf whiteflies were increasing slightly in some fields all across the LRGV this week. However, field scouting results this week showed that most of the heavier populations of SLWF were in the mid-Valley area. Even in the mid-Valley region, SLWF were not at levels of serious concerns. Certainly, yields did not appear to be threatened by SLWF and the only consideration for concern would be if populations increased to levels that could cause large amounts of honey dew to be dropped on open bolls. Sooty mold fungus can be a threat to fiber color grades if enough of the honey dew is deposited and the mold increases to large amounts. No sticky lint problems have ever been recorded from honey dew deposits by SLWF in the LRGV since the pests were first discovered on cotton here in 1990. Watch those fields anyway.

Sorghum Harvesting Increasing

Sorghum harvesting increased this week. Rains delayed or stopped field activity in some of the heaviest rainfall spots this week. But, the delays likely will remain short if the weather holds to its usual pattern of hot and dry at this time of the year.

Midge Love Blooming Sorghum

Sorghum midge continued to show increases in later blooming fields. All blooming fields are susceptible to midge now and need to be carefully monitored to determine when populations have reached economic thresholds.

Cotton Heat Unit Accumulation Table
Planting Dates	Accum. H.U.	Planting Dates	Accum. H.U.
2/15	2363	3/15	2206
3/01	2283	4/01	1969

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