GENERAL SITUATION

Several cotton fields have begun to bloom over the past week. Cotton has progressed well this week where it has sufficient moisture. Bollworm egg-lay has increased in several fields.

SCOUT SAFETY

Please contact your scouts or me if you are spraying the field they are scouting with an insecticide. We do not want anyone to be exposed unnecessarily to pesticides.

BOLLWORM

Bollworm egg lay continues to increase some. We have seen counts up to 20 per 100 terminals or 8000 per square acre.

Small worms ranged from 0-2250 per acre or 0-5 per 100 plants.

The basic threshold in squaring cotton is 5000 small worms/acre or 10 per 100 plants. This can be adjusted up some when considering control costs, cotton prices, water amounts, yield goal, etc.....

Bollworms usually do not cause economic damage in pre squaring cotton.

Ping bollworm traps ranged from 0-3 moths per trap one night this week.

BOLL WEEVIL

No weevils were caught in the regular traps this week

BASIC IPM CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

Continuing series on basic IPM concepts and definitions.

Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals that are used to destroy, repel, or otherwise lower pest infestations to protect crops from damage. Insecticides are pesticides used to control insects, herbicides are pesticides used to control weeds, fungicides are pesticides used to control fungi and nematicides are pesticides used to control nematodes.

Though pesticides pose many potential risks, they also provide the following important advantages and benefits:
1. Pesticides are readily available and easy to use.
2. Where resistance is not a problem, pesticides are generally highly effective for controlling pests.
3. Pesticide treatments can be rapidly implemented as
needed with minimal lag time.
4. Pesticides can be used over large areas to control large populations of pests.

5. Pesticide treatments are often cost effective, especially if the alternatives require large increases in human labor.
6. No effective, reliable, non-chemical alternatives are available for many pests and chemical pesticides are the last resort.

Pesticides are used in IPM programs when no effective alternatives are available or alternatives are not sufficient to keep pest populations from reaching damaging levels. The emphasis is to maximize the benefits and advantages that pesticides offer while minimizing any potential risks.

Whenever a pesticide treatment is needed, selection of the chemical should be consistent with the pesticide label and all state and federal laws and regulations. Additional considerations include: effectiveness against the target organism, compatibility with the host plant, effects on beneficial organisms, degree of environmental and user safety, and cost. Wherever possible, use a material that is least toxic to humans and other non-target organisms, and is least likely to contaminate ground and surface waters.

Why Minimize Pesticide Use?
Several problems and limitations have become apparent by relying solely on pesticides to control pests. Some of the problems include: pest resistance to pesticides; increased costs; toxicity to fish, wildlife, beneficial natural enemies of pests, and other non-target organisms; concerns about human health and safety; ground water contamination; and overall environmental quality.

Problems With Overuse of Pesticides Problems With Overuse of Pesticides
Pesticide Resistance
In an attempt to achieve better or total pest control, resistance problems have increased because pesticides are applied more frequently and at higher dosage rates. These tactics have resulted in increased selection pressure. Naturally resistant individuals in a pest population are able to survive pesticide treatments. The survivors breed and pass on the resistance trait to their offspring. With each passing generation, the pest population becomes more difficult to control with the same pesticides as compared with earlier generations. Reducing pesticide use and alternating among classes of pesticides with different modes of action can help to lessen the possibility of pest resistance. Managing pest resistance is very important in helping to prolong the effective life of needed pesticides.

Toxicity to Natural Enemies and Other Non-target Organisms
Natural enemies of pest species can be very helpful in keeping pest populations at lower levels. These beneficial organisms include organisms that are predators, parasites, or competitors to the detriment of the pest species. For example, aphids do not reach pest levels every year because many different natural enemies help to keep them in check. Unfortunately, many broad-spectrum, non-selective pesticides are more detrimental to numerous beneficial species than to the pests. The use of such pesticides often causes a resurgence in pest populations and at a much faster rate compared to the natural enemies. Without the natural controls, primary (established) and secondary (new) pests are often free to reach damaging levels at faster rates. An increase in pest levels usually results in additional pesticide treatments, which further depresses or eliminates the natural enemies and further encourages the potential for pest resistance. Selecting effective alternatives that are less toxic to non-target organisms, will increase natural enemy survival, and overall effectiveness of pest control.

WEATHER DATA

Weather data for the past two weeks is included in the table that follows:

HEAT UNITS averaged 19 per day the past week. Heat units since 5-1 and 5-15 and 6-1 are compared with last year and a five year average in the table below.

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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 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.

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