CURRENT CROP CONDITIONS
The recent hot temperatures have finally kick started the area cotton. Most of the program cotton is sitting between four to six nodes and is ranging from cotyledon to seven nodes. Many area fields have sustained heavy thrips damage resulting in stunted cotton.

WHAT THE SCOUTS ARE FINDING
The scouts are finding adult and immature thrips ranging from one to over 15 per leaf, beet armyworm egg masses and larvae, bollworm eggs and larvae and cotton aphids.

THRIPS ARE STILL A PROBLEM IN AREA COTTON
Thrips pressure remains high in most program fields. Populations are ranging from one to over 15 per leaf. On cotyledon stage cotton the threshold we are using is an average of one per plant. On cotton with three to four true leaves we are using three to five thrips per plant and on cotton with five to seven true leaves we are using six to ten per plant. The foliar applied material giving us the most residual control of thrips is Orthene. Producers that are receiving the most thrips injury did not apply an at planting insecticide such as Temik or Thimet. Producers that did apply Thimet or Temik have not had to treat as often. Once a foliar application has been made, do not base your decision to retreat on the number of adult thrips or damage symptoms. You must search for immature thrips which indicate that reproduction is taking place in the field and, therefor, the lack of residual control.

With the thrips damaged cotton nearing five nodes, producers need to be certain of growth stage when applying Roundup to Roundup Ready cotton. You must realize that many of these fields have stunted plants and that the fifth true leaf will never attain the size of a quarter. Do not add another fruiting problem by applying Roundup off label to cotton that has already been stressed by thrips.

For a bit of good news, beet armyworms are not getting a toe hold in most cotton in Lubbock County due to the recent hot temperatures. Last week we were finding as many as 30,000 small larvae per acre, and this week we are only finding one or two small larvae per check. We have not found any beet armyworm larvae over a 1/4" in size. This indicates to me that this pest is having a hard time surviving within the canopy at this time. Only time will tell the real story and 20 to 25 days from today we should or should not be seeing our next egg lay.

BOLL WEEVIL OVERWINTERING

The area program cotton is nearing the pinhead square stage. Many of the program fields will reach pinhead square by early next week and 1/3 grown square by the following week. Producers must realize that the trap index used for spray scheduling is the average number of weevils per trap during pinhead square. For some of you that would be this week ( June 11th through the 17). If you averaged two or more weevils per trap the week of pinhead squares you need to time your weevil applications around matchhead square. The average number of weevils per trap captured during matchhead and 1/3 grown square determines the number and frequency of applications.

The insecticide that I am recommending when trap catches are light (2 - 8 per trap)is Vydate® at 8.5 ounces per acre. Fields with trap catches that exceed an average of 8 or more, I am recommending Malathion ULV, Methyl, or Guthion. All of these products are excellent and economical and provide good control of boll weevils, but they are hard on Beneficials. Phaser or Thiodan is soft on Beneficials and provides good control for weevils, but the residual activity tends to decline from 2 to 5 days following application. Vydate® fits somewhere in the middle. This product is equal to malathion in residual control but is not as harsh towards Beneficials.

Decisions made on weather damaged cotton are difficult as well especially if you have hail damaged cotton with matchhead squares. After dealing with insurance adjusters and deciding that you are going to keep the crop, you need to immediately initiate your overwintering applications. Remember, once your cotton reaches 1/3 grown squares you are too late to start overwintering applications.

The ultimate decision of which product to use and when to treat remains with the grower. The decisions to make involve how much money you want to spend and if you want to protect your beneficial insect population. You need to think ahead.

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