1. Grasshoppers.
Grasshoppers tend to be worse in lighter, well drained soils and following dry
winters in reduced tillage fields. Immatures begin hatching out in late March
and continue until June. Stand loss occurs when grasshoppers feed on the
mainstem of emerging seedlings. Preventative insecticide applications are a
judgement call based on the risk a grower is willing to take.
2. Thrips.
Getting cotton seedlings off to a good start is important for maximizing
yields. Remember that what we see above ground is a good indication of the
below ground root system. Use the Thrips Infestation Predictor Model (link) to help gauge
which planting dates are at the highest risk of infestation.
3. Tarnished
Plant Bugs. Migrating adults in June may or may not reduce pinhead square
retention below 80-85%. However, they are depositing 100-150 eggs per female
that will hatch out in July to present post bloom control needs. Don’t give
them a head start. When treating plant bugs after the 2nd to 3rd
week of bloom, use tank-mixtures or chemistry that will also control stink
bugs.
4. Aphids.
Aphids always crash from natural disease, sometimes a little later than
desired. If controls are warranted, use a chemistry that will also suppress
plant bugs.
5. Bollworms.
Damaging levels of bollworms have not been an issue since 2017 but still keep
an eye out between July 20th and August 10th if planting 2-gene
cotton. Bollworm control with foliar insecticides is better when applied to
small worms.
6. Spider
Mites. Mites are present in most fields season long. They reproduce and
spread faster during hot, dry periods. Do not make treatments when rainfall is
abundant or in the forecast for the next few days.
7. Stink
Bugs. Stink bugs are often the most damaging pest of Alabama cotton. One
reason is time, stink bugs damage bolls in the mid-to-late season, leaving
little time for the plant to compensate. The most critical period for stink bug
control is between the 3rd and 6th weeks of bloom when
most of our yield is being set.
8. Be
Informed. Cotton insect management is different from all other aspects of
row crop production. The situation changes from week to week and sometimes
field to field. To stay up to date on the situation in Alabama, subscribe to
the Pest Patrol Hotline (link), Alabama
Insects Blog (link), Alabama
Crops Report (link)
and Cotton Shorts (link)
Newsletters, and the Alabama Crops Insect Report (link).