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  
Vol. 6, No. 9
1212 Houston Street, Suite 2, Levelland, TX 79336
July 18, 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

* General Crop & Pest Situation
* Cotton Insect Thresholds
* Peanut Meeting


GENERAL CROP & PEST SITUATION
The dog days of summer. It appears that these conditions are affecting the crops and insect pests. The crops are unable to capture and benefit from heat units when maximum temperature exceeds 100 degrees F. It is difficult for insects to survive in these conditions as well. Generally, insect pests are light in numbers. Head moths in sunflowers are still a concern in just or still flowering fields. A few corn earworm larvae have been noted in peanuts. Grain sorghum still has greenbugs which beneficials are attempting to get on top of.

Cotton contains variable numbers of fleahoppers, Lygus, cotton boll worms,beet armyworms, aphids, and cotton boll weevils. When a field is at bloom/boll stage then we can ease our concern of fleahoppers as a pests unless numbers are still high (> 25-30/100 terminals) and 1st position square set is dropping below 70%.
Lygus have been scattered. The rule has been that Lygus are more prevailent near alfalfa, and weedy areas. Lygus can continue to damage bolls. Cotton bollworm moths numbers have been low in our pheromone traps. This is reflecting on the light egg lays noted. Larvae populations have not been surviving more than a couple of days due to both heat and predators. Beet armyworms have been found up to 11,000 per acre. In that situation damage was confined to foliage and was not treated. Aphids remain light and basically fodder for beneficials. Cotton boll weevil damage is being detected (pencil eraser size) squares by field inspection at 0-3%. Cotton averages 7.2 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) going into bloom/boll stage on irrigated cotton. The NAWF is highly variable on dryland.

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COTTON INSECT THRESHOLDS

Bollworm: Treatment may be justified when counts average 5,000 or more small worms per acre. However, if two or more key predators are found for each small worm, control measures may not be needed or a microbial insecticide may be used.

Boll weevil: If 20 percent of the squares examined are weevil damaged, treatment should be considered. After peak bloom, or when bloom and boll numbers exceed square counts, treatments should be initiated when 25 to 30 percent of the squares examined are weevil damaged.

Aphids: Insecticidal control of cotton aphids should be delayed until infestations exceed 50 aphids per leaf.

Beet Armyworm: When infestations are mainly leaf feeding and small worm counts exceed 20,000 per acre and at least 10 percent of the plants examined are infested, control may be warranted. If beet armyworm larvae have shifted from feeding on foliage to feeding on squares, blooms, and bolls, threshold of 5,000 small larvae per acre.

Lygus Bugs: After the third week of squaring, the economic threshold is two lygus bug adults or nymphs per 3 feet of row with less than acceptable fruit retention.


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.
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Peanut Meeting
Thursday, July 23, @ 10:00 a.m
To be held at Ronnie Alexander Farm
Directions: FM 1585, 1½ mi. East of Hwy 385

Activities
*** Discussion of Current Peanut Health and Requirements

Light Lunch

Speakers
Dr. Calvin Trostle, Extension Agronomist
Chris Edens, Hockley County Extension Agent
Aaron Preator, Cochran County Extension Agent
Kerry Siders, Hockley County Extension Agent - IPM

For more information, contact Chris Edens @ 894-3159
Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, religion, disability or national origin. The information given herein is for education use only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied. Individuals with disabilities who required an auxiliary aid, service or accommodations in order to participate in an Extension sponsored activity are encouraged to contact the county Extension office in Hockley County (806)894-3159 or in Cochran County (806)266-5215 to determine how reasonable accommodation can be made.

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