Tales of Cotton Insects: Monday June 16, 2025

Overall, the cotton insect situation has been quiet this year., which is not unexpected considering how planting season went. Acres will be down significantly this year, how much? We will have to wait to see. Hopefully we will quickly turn into a “normal” summer pattern with scattered (and hopefully timely) storms for the rest of the year.

For the first time in my career, I am getting calls about thrips and plant bugs at the same time (and on top of that, plant bug calls are later than usual too). Plant bugs have been sporadic with most reports being that few are detected in fields. However, we have also received reports of populations well above threshold and square retention in the 65% range. This highlights the importance of scouting and not guessing where plant bugs are (or are not).

This year, as much as any, we cannot afford to allow square retention to fall below threshold, but we also need to manage plant bugs as economically (cheap) as possible. However, achieving adequate control is still our primary goal. Remember, the best way to maximize the return on an insecticide application is to apply it ON TIME. The only way to do this is to scout fields and follow economic thresholds. In pre-bloom cotton, threshold is 8 adult plant bugs per 100 sweeps AND to maintain 80% square retention (note: in late planted cotton, we may want to be more aggressive on square retention to promote earliness).

With that in mind, we have a few options for control of adults in pre-bloom cotton:

1.      Imidacloprid: Many trade names. Imidacloprid is the most economical option we have for plant bug control. While imidacloprid does not provide 100% control (closer to 60-65%) at the highest labeled rates, it generally provides enough to get populations under threshold and preserves square retention

2.      Thiamethoxam: Centric, Hub WDG. Thiamethoxam is another neonicotinoid that provides good control of adult plant bugs. Our general recommendation is 2 oz/A. While a little more costly than imidacloprid, this material provides better control. Another option is Endigo ZCX, which is a premix of Centric (thiamethoxam) and lambda-cy. Endigo ZCX at 3.5 oz/A provides the equivalent rate of Centric (2 oz/A) and lambda-cy (1.5 oz/A). While the added lambda-cy may be more likely to flare mites, this pre-mix may be a little more economical than Centric alone.

3.      Sulfoxaflor: Transform (1.5 oz/A) provides the best control of plant bugs of all currently registered materials. For that reason, we like to wait to use it when immature plant bugs are present. Waiting for Transform can help to delay resistance and manage adults more economically.

4.      Other options: Acephate (0.5 lb) or pyrethroids (highest labeled rate) are options for adults but are not generally recommended. The reason for this is multi-fold. 1. Resistance management. We prefer to use neonics (imidacloprid or thiamethoxam) on adults and then switch to the “harder” chemicals (Ops/pyrethroids) after bloom when targeting immature plant bugs and/or stink bugs. 2. These classes of chemicals tend to be harsher on beneficials, which could lead to outbreaks of spider mite (however, we can and have flared spider mites with neonics sprayed on 7-day intervals). 3. Aphids, while neonics are generally good on aphids, OPs and pyrethroids are not as reliable.

**Note: Pyrethroid resistance has been documented in NW and SW Alabama in recent years. Pyrethroids should be monitored closely for efficacy if used in all cotton growing regions of Alabama.

Complications with adult plant bug management: Adults can continue to move into fields over several weeks as weedy hosts slow play out in wet springs. We suspect this could be the case this year. This may mean we need to spray in consecutive weeks to keep populations below threshold. In these situations, monitoring 1^st position square retention on the upper 2-3 nodes is critical. This is really the only way to determine the efficacy of a spray for adults. Since a cotton plant puts on a new node every ≈3 days, we are evaluating new growth the week following an application. As long as square retention is high (>80%), our spray did its job regardless of adult plant bug numbers.

We have also received scattered reports of aphids across the state. In most cases, populations were just high enough to be noticed, but in a few there were enough to piggyback a shot with a trip for PGRs. Generally, we do not see yield benefits to spraying aphids but it can happen. I suspect this year they may have the potential to slow the crop down, particularly if we get dry. Hopefully all the excess moisture we currently have will play in our favor and help the aphid fungus develop a little quicker than normal.

As always, if we can ever be of any help, or if you would like to provide input on the situation in your area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Extension Agent or myself (Scott Graham: 662-809-3368) and Ron Smith (334-332-9501). For more information on thresholds and insecticide recommendations, visit the Alabama Cotton IPM Guide (IPM-0415). To stay up-to-date on the Alabama cotton insect situation, subscribe to the Alabama Cotton Shorts Newsletter, Alabama Crops Report Newsletter and Podcast, and the Syngenta Pest Patrol Hotline.

Tales of Cotton Insects: June 5, 2025

There has been little action as far as insect across the state in the last couple weeks. The biggest issue has been excessive rainfall – either drowning out stands or preventing planting. With another round of storms moving through this weekend, we are hoping it will be the last and that storms will be spotty instead of widespread.

The Extension cotton team has been putting out information on how to manage late planted cotton. The plan of attack will change as you move from south to north. At the end of the day, the decision will have to come down to a farm-to-farm decision. Consider the economics of reduced yield for cotton compared to planting soybeans or leaving the ground fallow and make the best decision possible.

 Below are a few tips on managing late cotton:

1.      Plant the shortest season variety available. Earlier maturing varieties (early or early-mid) typically set and mature bolls in a shorter time than full to mid-season varieties.

2.      If planting about June 7 or 8 through the 15, plan for a yield goal of 850 pounds (North Alabama). Manage the crop with this goal in mind. If that yield goal does not at least break even, consider the economics of other crops, like soybeans.

3.      Reduce nitrogen rates. A crop with a goal of 850 pounds does not need the same inputs as a crop with 1,250-pound potential.

4.      Consider reducing seeding rates. Planting late in the window generally means better conditions and a better stand, thus lower seeding rates (approximately 2.5 seed per foot) should provide the needed yield potential.

5.      Manage plant bugs aggressively pre-bloom. While the normal threshold is to maintain 80% of the first position squares during the squaring season, farmers cannot afford to lose any squares in late planted cotton. High square set promotes earliness and is critical to achieve this goal. Be prepared to need more plant bug applications than normal in a late crop.

6.      Make timely applications of plant growth regulators (PGR) as needed throughout the season. PGR strategies in particular may need to be adjusted but reaction should be made quickly when needed.

7.      Make timely insecticide applications as needed. Since there is a short window to set the crop, growers cannot allow insects to delay maturity or cause boll loss. During the blooming window, thresholds may not need to be changed if growers are able to make timely applications. In situations where timeliness is not achievable, thresholds may be reduced to lower the chances of loss.

For more details and in-depth discussion, listen to the most recent episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast (link) where members of the cotton team across the state provide insights and information on the current situation.

As always, if we can ever be of any help, or if you would like to provide input on the situation in your area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Extension Agent or myself (Scott Graham: 662-809-3368) and Ron Smith (334-332-9501). For more information on thresholds and insecticide recommendations, visit the Alabama Cotton IPM Guide (IPM-0415). To stay up-to-date on the Alabama cotton insect situation, subscribe to the Alabama Cotton Shorts Newsletter, Alabama Crops Report Newsletter and Podcast, and the Syngenta Pest Patrol Hotline.

Tales of Cotton Insects: May 8, 2025

We have gotten a lot of calls over the past couple of days on grasshoppers across central and south Alabama. It can be tricky to tell how many are adults or immatures, and most folks don’t carry sweep net in seedling cotton to catch them, but at this point it is safe to assume that a decent percentage of the population is adults. Unfortunately, we do not have good thresholds for grasshoppers. It basically comes down to the level of risk a farmer is willing to take. One thing we have noticed is that fields that grasshoppers have reduced stands in in years past are likely to have it happen again. In some conversations, the grower is willing to accept some risk, but in most cases, they are not.

We are pretty limited with options for control of adult grasshoppers. Acephate (0.67 lbs ai) has been the standard and most consistent option. While some people have asked about pyrethroids, they are just too inconsistent on adults. We have also been asked about Bidrin. While we have not tested it, it would likely provide similar control as acephate as both are organophosphates. The labeled rate for Bidrin on grasshoppers is 3.2 oz.

Thankfully, immature grasshoppers are not as difficult to control. The acephate provides good knockdown control, but short residual. This is why we recommend Dimilin (2 oz) be added to the tank. Dimilin provides good residual control of immatures continuing to hatch in the field.

A few other points: Grasshoppers are not a “border pest.” Eggs are deposited in tubes in soil in the fall and are distributed across the field. Thus, the entire field should be treated, not just the borders. Cotton is most susceptible in the crook stage as the emerging stem is just cracking the soil surface. However, stand loss can be threatened after full emergence as grasshoppers feed on the mainstems.

As always, if we can ever be of any help, or if you would like to provide input on the situation in your area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Extension Agent or myself (Scott Graham: 662-809-3368) and Ron Smith (334-332-9501). For more information on thresholds and insecticide recommendations, visit the Alabama Cotton IPM Guide (IPM-0415). To stay up-to-date on the Alabama cotton insect situation, subscribe to the Alabama Cotton Shorts Newsletter, Alabama Crops Report Newsletter and Podcast, and the Syngenta Pest Patrol Hotline.

Cotton seedlings damaged by grasshoppers

Development of immature grasshoppers as they age

Adult grasshoppers (note wings)

Tales of Cotton Insects: April 28, 2025

Cotton planting has started across the state at some level. Depending on location, moisture (too much or too little) has been a limiting factor slowing down widespread planting. At this point, I would start as soon as soil moisture allows. With that in mind, weather conditions significantly impact thrips flights in cotton. The thrips model was down for awhile but is back up and running now. Thus far, it is pretty easy to summarize the risk of thrips injury across the state. For all models, we selected an anticipated planting date of May 1.

Disclaimers: This model reads past, current and predicted weather to line up how cotton growth/development and thrips movement/development interact. Risk is subject to change as weather changes. We recommend running the model before planting and a couple of days after planting too to ensure things didn’t change. https://products.climate.ncsu.edu/ag/cottontip/

South Alabama:

We ran the model in Henry and Escambia counties and got similar results. For both, the expected thrips pressure is LOW for cotton planted in May. Cotton planted before today (April 28) is at a MODERATE risk, but overall most of the cotton planted from now on is not expected to be at much risk of thrips injury.

Central Alabama:

We ran the model in Elmore, Autauga and Dallas counties with similar results. Cotton planted through about May 14^th is at LOW risk of thrips injury.

North Alabama:

We ran the model in Limestone, Cherokee, Pickens and Talladega counties.

Limestone Co.: Cotton planted beginning around May 1 is at HIGH risk of thrips injury. The elevated risk continues until at least May 20.

Cherokee Co.: Cotton planted around May 5 is at HIGH risk of thrips injury. This risk again remains elevated until at least May 20.

Pickens Co.: Cotton planted through at least May 20 is expected to be at LOW risk of thrips injury.

Talladega Co.: Cotton planted before about May 12 is expected to be at LOW to MODERATE risk of thrips injury. As planting dates push into May 20, cotton is expected to be at LOW risk.

How does this impact thrips management decisions?

Cotton at LOW risk will likely only need seed treatments this year. I would strongly consider not spending money on additional in-furrow insecticides for cotton at LOW risk. However, make sure cotton seed has a full rate of imidacloprid seed treatment. Each seed brand has its own code or brand for what insecticides and fungicides the seed was treated with. The lowest rate recommended for thrips control is 0.375 mg/seed (12.6 oz per 100 lb of seed) of imidacloprid.

Cotton at MODERATE risk may or may not benefit from an additional in-furrow insecticide. I would again recommend considering leaving out the in-furrow and evaluating the seed treatment and make foliar sprays if necessary.

Cotton at HIGH risk will likely need an insecticide to supplement seed treatments. If in-furrow applications are possible, there are several options:

1.      AgLogic (3.5 lbs/A) provides excellent control of thrips

2.      Imidacloprid (9.2 oz/A) provides very good control of thrips

3.      Acephate (1 lb/A) provides sporadic control. In my experience, acephate does not perform as well in wet soil conditions

If in-furrow applications are not possible, I would be prepared to make a foliar application around the 1 true leaf stage. Again, we have several good options for control:

1.      Intrepid Edge (3 oz/A) /Hemi (1.5 oz/A). Intrepid Edge is a pre-mix of spinetoram and methoxyfenozide while Hemi (1.5 oz/A) is spinetoram alone. Both products should provide comparable control of thrips and are safe on beneficials (low risk to flare spider mites).

2.      Acephate (3 oz/A) is an effective and relatively inexpensive option, however it has the potential to flare secondary pests such as spider mites and is the least rainfast of the recommended options available.

3.      Bidrin (3.2 oz/A) is another option that is effective and less likely to flare spider mites and is more rainfast than acephate, however it is more likely to cause crop injury when tank-mixed with herbicides.

A reminder that pyrethroids are not effective and should not be used to control thrips.

ThryvOn cotton provides excellent control of thrips. To date, we have not observed thrips damage in cotton that justified an in-furrow or foliar application.

As always, if we can ever be of any help, or if you would like to provide input on the situation in your area, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Extension Agent or myself (Scott Graham: 662-809-3368) and Ron Smith (334-332-9501). For more information on thresholds and insecticide recommendations, visit the Alabama Cotton IPM Guide (IPM-0415). To stay up-to-date on the Alabama cotton insect situation, subscribe to the Alabama Cotton Shorts Newsletter, Alabama Crops Report Newsletter and Podcast, and the Syngenta Pest Patrol Hotline.

Cotton Insect Management in 2025

Getting into the cotton business is an expensive endeavor and staying in it can be even more difficult. From highly specialized equipment needs, like pickers, to fertilizers or a bag of seed, few things are “cheap” if you want to grow cotton. As they old saying goes, you spend the first month of the year trying to keep it alive, then the rest of the year trying to slow it down. That is, if you are fortunate enough to have irrigation capacity or blessed by timely rains. As many farmers across Alabama experienced this year, extended periods of drought at certain times take all that front end cost and dump it. “Raising” a cotton crop is a challenging but rewarding job, our job with Extension is to help make it possible.

Each year, everyone in the industry looks for ways to “economize” cotton production. Agronomists look at reducing seeding rates or cutting back on certain fertilizers. Weed scientists evaluate cover crops as ways to reduce weed pressure with the added benefit of holding soil moisture longer into the season. Plant pathologists evaluate fungicide timings to see how often these applications return money and preserve yield. Precision ag specialists are adopting soil moisture probes to make irrigation more efficient or using NDVI maps to variable rate in-season inputs. This brings one final discipline. Where can we cut costs on insect management?

To answer the question of where we can cut back on insect control, we must first look at where we are. The concept of “precision agriculture” is, on the surface, a new frontier that will take ag into the future. If you ask an artificial intelligence (AI) program what precision agriculture is, you will get a nice definition talking about a “modern” farming approach that uses technology to respond to variability in crops or livestock. These programs will tell you about fancy technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), Internet of Things (IoT) which are devices that connect tractors or other equipment to the internet, drones and/or data management and analytics programs that help with decision-making. If you think about it, however, we have been responding to variability and field specific conditions in insect management for some time.

The concept of integrated pest management, or IPM, was formally developed in the late 1950’s by a group of researchers from the University of California at Riverside and led by Dr. Vernon Stern. While it can be defined in many ways, at its core IPM is using a combination of all tactics available to reduce pest pressure and maximize the environmental and economic return on insect management. Scouting and monitoring is the backbone of an IPM program. That is, scouting fields across an area and determining what insects are present at what level, so the farmer can make well informed and timely decisions on controls based on economic thresholds. In other words, scouting fields enables the farmer to use field specific data to make “precise” applications where controls are warranted and to avoid applications where insects are not at damaging levels.

As strategies for insect management have changed, so too have the primary pests of cotton. Long gone are the days of 4–5-day spray intervals for boll weevil. In 1986, the year prior to the Boll Weevil Eradication Program, Alabama cotton farmers averaged 16.6 insecticide applications per acre. During the eradication program (1987 through 1995), tobacco budworm, bollworm and beet armyworm stepped into the forefront and Alabama farmers averaged “just” 9.8 applications per acre. This changed with the introduction of genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties expressing the naturally occurring Bacillus thruingiensis (Bt) toxins that now provide excellent control of these and other lepidopteran pests. The 1996 season ushered in a new era of insect management, Alabama farmers averaged less than 1 application per acre, thanks to the successful eradication program and a 77% adoption of Bt cotton.  However, we quickly learned that other pests would fill the void. Stink bugs became the primary target with two or more applications required to avoid economic losses in most years. More recently, tarnished plant bugs have become a much more consistent problem. Resistance has complicated plant bug management, making timeliness much more important for economic control. Still, sporadic pests, such as grasshoppers, spider mites, aphids and many others require monitoring and control at various times throughout the season.

With all these factors in mind, how should we approach insect management in 2025? This past year, I was called to visit a field with an experienced consultant that got a little behind on plant bugs in one field. He made the statement that his new customer stressed that if could save him one spray, then he would be worth whatever he was paying. The week prior, the consultant decided this field was a candidate for “savings.” As we stood in the field and evaluated the level of insects and damage present, he realized that his job is not to “save a spray” but to “maximize a spray.” As I like to say when it comes to cotton insect control, you can save money or you can save cotton, but it is hard to do both. In 2025 with commodity prices low and input prices high, the value of a scout is even greater. Many of the insecticides used today do not provide 100% control. Our goal is not to eliminate insects anyway, it is to keep them below damaging levels. With that in mind, the timeliness of insecticide applications is critical, as 70% of a threshold is far greater than 70% of a 3x threshold. When a scout reports insects at threshold (i.e. damaging levels), intervention should be made as soon as possible.

Tips to Economize Cotton Insect Control in 2025

1.    Use a trained scout or consultant. Farming is a very labor-intensive job. Difficulties finding workers to help on the farm only makes it worse. Having someone who’s job is to monitor fields weekly from emergence to “cutout” to provide detailed reports of insects is critical. This can allow the farmer to make the most informed decision on when to treat or not treat.

2.    Use economic thresholds. Thresholds for nearly every cotton insect have been developed over the years to ensure insecticide applications maximize return on investment. But they only work if they are followed. In other words, spraying under threshold will not bring back money and spraying well above threshold will not return all the money possible.

3.    Make timely applications when needed. When an insect report is received, time is of the essence. Action to stop a growing population should be taken to ensure economic losses are not reached. If an insect population is given a week after reaching damaging levels to feed and continue growing, that makes getting populations back under threshold much more difficult.

4.    Use recommended insecticides at recommended rates. After timeliness, using the “right stuff” at the “right amount” is critical. Each year, we conduct insecticide efficacy trials to monitor the performance of insecticides against key insect pests. We try to make the most economic recommendation in every situation. This does not, however, always mean the cheapest insecticide or the lowest rate. Getting good control is critical to minimizing losses and increasing return on investment.