West Plains IPM Update 08/02/2000

Texas Agricultural Extension Service
The Texas A&M University System

West Plains
IPM Update

news about integrated pest management in hockley and cochran counties

Kerry Siders, EA-IPM

(806) 894-2406 (phone)

(806) 638-5635(mobile)

(806) 897-3104 (FAX)

E-Mail: k-siders@tamu.edu

http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ipm

http://www.tpma.org

Vol. 6, No. 2

1212 Houston Street, Suite 2, Levelland, TX 79336

May 9, 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

* Subscribe to West Plains IPM Update
* Weather Data Available
* Cotton Boll Weevil Situation
* Field Scout School

2001 West Plains IPM Update is a newsletter which provides news of insect, weed and disease pests, and crop management suggestions for Cochran and Hockley Counties. The newsletter is written weekly during the growing season, from June through September. This is the last issue that will be sent at no charge so send in your subscription if you have not already done so to remain on the mailing list. There is a $10 subscription fee to cover the cost of postage and to off-set cost of newsletter supplies. Please send $10 and the subscription form to:

Kerry Siders
1212 Houston St. Suite 2
Levelland, TX 79336

Make checks payable to: WEST PLAINS IPM UPDATE

The newsletter can be obtained at no charge on the web sites at: http;//www.tpma.org/news_letters/
http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ipm
http://www.Hockley-TX.tamu.edu/IPM
We can e-mail you an electronic version if you provide us with your e-mail address.

Weather Data Available

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service in Hockley County is now serving as the official weather observer in Levelland for the National Weather Service. We can provide minimum and maximum temperatures, heat units, and rainfall data. Call for more information.

Cotton Boll Weevils - Best Case Scenario?
The results are in from our 2001 Overwintered Boll Weevil Site Survey. The results are very encouraging in that both overall weevil numbers found in sites and numbers of live weevils found were way down this year. We can attribute these results to the winter temperatures, winter duration, condition of weevils (available body fat), and effectiveness of active eradication zones to the north and south of us.

Table 1. Overwintered Boll Weevil site survey.


Location	% Sites infested	Total Weevils/Acre	Total live Weevils/Acre

Hockley
2001	0	0	0
2000	37.5	674	169
1999	87.5	6239	3369
Cochran
2001	62.5	1349	0
2000	50.0	2529	1187
1999	62.0	2361	674

*Each County is an average of 8 sites with three 1m² samples per site.

Boll Weevils which emerge from winter habitat prior to squaring in cotton have a relatively short life span. Studies conducted in West Texas have shown that the average life span of newly emerged overwintered boll weevils is usually less than two weeks if squares are not available for food. Even though boll weevils feed on the leaves of seedling cotton, this insect is primarily a pollen feeder and is dependent upon pollen for extended longevity, reproduction and maximum pheromone production. The adult weevil uses its snout to drill into the square and feeds upon the pollen of anthers which fill the inside of this fruiting structure. Female boll weevils do not lay eggs until cotton squares approximately 1/3 grown (pencil eraser) in size are present. Therefore, the majority of overwintered boll weevils which emerge two or more weeks in advance of squaring cotton are suicidal.

We must be very vigilant from this time before squaring to assess the situation of the weevil and make treatment decision as we move into the squaring period. This is the first battle of the year with the weevil and if lost you can lose the whole war for the year. So bottom-line is place your traps out soon after planting an check them religiously for the next 8-10 weeks. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Have your sprayer or applicator ready to move at a moments notice. Yes, we may be in a best case scenario with weevils now but let us keep it that way until the eradication program kicks in. Then we can hope that it will be the cheapest and shortest lived weevil eradication effort. There is hope with your help.

FIELD SCOUT SCHOOL
A training session for those interested in learning more about field scouting will be held Friday 1st, at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview (on Business I-27, just south of town). The scout school will begin with registration at 8 a.m. This program will offer training in pest identification & scouting procedures. For more information, please contact me at 894-2406.

Thoughts On My Mind

* Sprayer calibration will ensure proper rate of crop protection chemicals, good coverage, management/control of the pest, and efficient use of input cost.

* Remember the goal of protecting crops from pests (weeds, insects & disease) is to limit yield loss, not to increase yields.

* The use of Roundup Ready is no substitute for a good base herbicide program consisting of a preplant incorporated and at-plant preemergence herbicides.

* The use of Bollgard does not excuse you from checking your crop for worms on a weekly basis.

* The advice of a professional consultant on a weekly basis is even that much more important in time of economic concern and maximizing necessary production inputs.

West Plains IPM Update is a publication of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service IPM Program in Hockley and Cochran Counties.

Editor: Kerry Siders

Production: Patty Castaneda

Posted at this web site by:
texagnet Internet Services.

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.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating