Friday, August 12, 2011

Fleahoppers and Silver Leaf Whiteflies Reported in Southwest Alabama

After two uneventful weeks with little cotton insect news, several points have been learned this week. Consultants from the Mobile area of SW Alabama voiced that the cotton fleahopper has been their most persistent insect this season. This area also has another fleahopper species in the mix, that being the garden fleahopper. Fleahoppers are not difficult to control but populations can rebound very quickly within 5-7 days. Also in this same area, silver leaf whiteflies (SLWF) are infesting a few cotton fields that are planted adjacent to melon fields. Controls were needed for this insect.