The cotton crop varies greatly from one location to another. Cotton maturity ranges from still in the bag to early squaring. Many fields are in need of rain and some have had too much rain and hail and will need to be either replanted to cotton or another crop, or will be abandoned.

Grasshoppers have been seen along the field margins of many fields and have caused sufficient damage in some fields to require treatment, and in some cases, replanting. Typical thresholds are 1 grasshopper per 3 feet of row, 1 grasshopper per square yard, or 20% stand loss.

False Chinch Bugs are a unique pest in some cotton fields this year and are typically only an occasional pest of grain sorghum. The insect is small (1/10 inch long), grey to brown in color and similar to chinch bugs.

They seem to be associated with fields near pastures, wheat fields, or CRP fields. These insects are migrating into these cotton fields in large numbers as their wild hosts, such as wild mustard, dry down. There are no set economic thresholds for the False Chinch Bug, but I would tend to recommend treatment based on plant injury. If you notice plants drooping or dying, you may want to consider treatment.

Adult fleahoppers are about 1/8th inch long and pale green, with an oval body shape. Nymphs resemble adults but lack wings. These insects move rapidly when disturbed making them difficult to scout. Plants must be approached carefully to avoid any disturbances, including shadows.

The decision to apply an insecticide for fleahoppers should be based on the number of fleahoppers present and the percent square set. During the first week of squaring, the economic threshold is 25 to 30 fleahoppers per 100 terminals combined with less than 90 percent square set. For the second and third week of squaring, the economic threshold is 25 to 30 fleahoppers per 100 terminals combined with less than 85 and 75 percent square set, respectively.

All meetings will begin at 8:30 a.m. CEU's will be available at all meetings.

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 commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. We will seek to provice reasonable accomodations for all persons with disabilites for all extension programs. We request that you contact Mr. Stephen Biles (915/236-9011) as soon as possible to advise us of the auxiliary aid or service that your require.

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