Monday, June 28, 2010
Hoping for Rain
I will be in the southeastern Alabama region Tuesday and Wednesday this week (June 29 and 30) and will report insect observations later in the week. Widespread thunderstorms are moving across southwestern Alabama today (June 28). Several dry areas still exist in the state. Hopefully rainfall will occur in those areas this week.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Tarnished Plant Bugs and Brown Stink Bugs
A few more fields have popped up with high numbers of adult tarnished plant bugs this week. These are fields that had low numbers in previous weeks. Even though the percent square retention is still above 80% now, controls are being applied to some of these fields to prevent the likely drop in retention next week. Another benefit of early controls would be to reduce the size of the infield population of immatures during the first half of July. Not only are these adults feeding on pinhead squares, they are also depositing eggs that will be hatching into TPB nymphs in a few weeks.
Brown stink bugs continue to be observed and reported from most cotton fields statewide. These adults will begin feeding on small thumb sized bolls as soon as the dried bloom drops off. In situations like this, we can have damaging economic levels of stink bugs prior to the third week of bloom. Two to three adult brown stink bugs per 20 sweeps (about 60 row feet) were captured in fields at the Wiregrass Research Center, Headland, AL this week. Remember that the life cycle of an adult stink bug may be as long as 30-35 days.
Brown stink bugs continue to be observed and reported from most cotton fields statewide. These adults will begin feeding on small thumb sized bolls as soon as the dried bloom drops off. In situations like this, we can have damaging economic levels of stink bugs prior to the third week of bloom. Two to three adult brown stink bugs per 20 sweeps (about 60 row feet) were captured in fields at the Wiregrass Research Center, Headland, AL this week. Remember that the life cycle of an adult stink bug may be as long as 30-35 days.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Spider mites, tarnished plant bugs, tobacco budworms, stink bugs, and yellow striped armyworms observed
Cotton 6/21/2010 - Spider mites were reported infesting select fields in Talladega county today. This is the second call I have had concerning mites on cotton in the past week. This problem could spread in coming weeks with the hot weather. Thunderstorms rumbled through parts of the state on Saturday. But, some areas remain dry with intense heat.
I have received no new reports of tarnished plant bug (TPB) activity. Hopefully, this heavy migration from wild hosts will be of short duration. Fields that were treated for TPBs in southwest Alabama are clean this week with high square retention. Unsprayed fields have some level of plant bugs left but they do not appear to be causing greater than 20% square loss.
Today, I collected early instar tobacco budworm larvae from tobacco at the Gulf Coast Research Center. Tobacco is being used as a sentinel crop at three sites to monitor budworm activity (Prattville, Fairhope, and Headland, AL). Based on observations, it appears that some level of budworm egg lay has been going on for two or more weeks. Growers with conventional cotton should be very selective in spraying for any other insect during this budworm flight. Keep beneficials in conventional cotton as long as possible. Hopefully, up to July 15 in central Alabama and July 20 in central Alabama.
One insect that may make it difficult to leave uncontrolled after the first week of bloom is the stink bug. Numerous brown stink bugs (BSB) can be found in many fields at present. They will not damage pre-bloom cotton but as soon as the bloom drops they will attack the thumb sized boll causing abortion from the plant. I am seeing a level of BSBs that will require controls in many fields by the second week of bloom. It does not appear that these BSB are moving to corn or other hosts, but instead are just waiting for the first small bolls. In fact, when those in corn begin looking for a new home, we likely will have many move into cotton.
Yellow striped armyworms, in low numbers, were observed in numerous BGII fields in Monroe county today.
On other crops - tobacco budworms, fall armyworms and yellow striped armyworms were reported feeding as foliage feeders on peanuts in Monroe county (southwest AL) today. Numbers were low (one per 4-5 row feet) in many fields but a few fields had numbers approaching concern and will be watched closely during the next 7-10 days. The average peanut field has about six inches of foliage at this time.
I have received no new reports of tarnished plant bug (TPB) activity. Hopefully, this heavy migration from wild hosts will be of short duration. Fields that were treated for TPBs in southwest Alabama are clean this week with high square retention. Unsprayed fields have some level of plant bugs left but they do not appear to be causing greater than 20% square loss.
Today, I collected early instar tobacco budworm larvae from tobacco at the Gulf Coast Research Center. Tobacco is being used as a sentinel crop at three sites to monitor budworm activity (Prattville, Fairhope, and Headland, AL). Based on observations, it appears that some level of budworm egg lay has been going on for two or more weeks. Growers with conventional cotton should be very selective in spraying for any other insect during this budworm flight. Keep beneficials in conventional cotton as long as possible. Hopefully, up to July 15 in central Alabama and July 20 in central Alabama.
One insect that may make it difficult to leave uncontrolled after the first week of bloom is the stink bug. Numerous brown stink bugs (BSB) can be found in many fields at present. They will not damage pre-bloom cotton but as soon as the bloom drops they will attack the thumb sized boll causing abortion from the plant. I am seeing a level of BSBs that will require controls in many fields by the second week of bloom. It does not appear that these BSB are moving to corn or other hosts, but instead are just waiting for the first small bolls. In fact, when those in corn begin looking for a new home, we likely will have many move into cotton.
Yellow striped armyworms, in low numbers, were observed in numerous BGII fields in Monroe county today.
On other crops - tobacco budworms, fall armyworms and yellow striped armyworms were reported feeding as foliage feeders on peanuts in Monroe county (southwest AL) today. Numbers were low (one per 4-5 row feet) in many fields but a few fields had numbers approaching concern and will be watched closely during the next 7-10 days. The average peanut field has about six inches of foliage at this time.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tobacco Budworms on peanut foliage and Fall Armyworms in pastures
On 6/15/2010 tobacco budworms were reported to be feeding on foliage of peanuts in several locations across southern Alabama. A similar situation occurred in 2008 which required controls to prevent complete defoliation. Also on 6/15 Fall Armyworms (likely the grass strain) were reported in high numbers on hay fields in south Alabama. Controls were being applied.
High numbers of adult tarnished plant bugs continue to occur in many, but not all, cotton fields in central and southern Alabama. Controls may be warranted if pinhead square retention drops below 80% in Bollgard and WideStrike varieties. It would not be wise to treat conventional cotton for plant bugs during this tobacco budworm flight.
High numbers of adult tarnished plant bugs continue to occur in many, but not all, cotton fields in central and southern Alabama. Controls may be warranted if pinhead square retention drops below 80% in Bollgard and WideStrike varieties. It would not be wise to treat conventional cotton for plant bugs during this tobacco budworm flight.
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