· If monitoring 2
gene cotton in 2020, take note of the corn planting window in your area. This
plays a large role in the emergence and movement of corn earworm (bollworm)
moths to cotton in July and August. The more corn planting is spread out, the
wider the emergence window of bollworms.
· Bollworm moth
activity is not constant throughout the season. Instead, it occurs in cycles
especially through July. By August, generations of bollworms and tobacco
budworms overlap. Fieldmen should detect the start of these peaks by focusing
on eggs and newly hatched larvae in terminals/white blooms.
· Scouting intervals
for bollworms may be reduced to 3-4 days during critical windows on 2 gene
cotton in 2020. Fieldmen could spot check select sentinel fields of similar
variety and planting date on alternate visits to detect increased activity.
· When monitoring
for bollworm larvae or eggs on 2 gene cotton in 2020, be more concerned about
detecting population increases early, and reacting if necessary, than
quantifying exact numbers—for example: 18 vs. 28 per whatever.
· Fieldmen should
consider damaged fruit on 2 gene cotton in 2020, but treatment decisions will
be more timely if primary focus is on eggs and/or newly hatched larvae.
· Based on my
observations during the Bt cotton era of the past 20 plus years, escape
bollworm larvae do not feed on or damage as many fruiting sites per worm as
they did in the pre Bt era.
· In order to stay
on schedule in 2020, fieldmen should consider only staying in a field long
enough to make confident treat or not treat decision.
· Pest Patrol
Updates on cotton/soybean insects in Alabama are available again in 2020. To
sign up for the Syngenta Pest Patrol Updates for Alabama, register online at https://www.syngenta-us.com/pest-patrol or register via
text message by texting pestpat11 to 97063.
