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Field and Forage Crops |
Thrips levels increased in several areas of the state this past week, although numbers of migrating adults seemed to have eased.
In the mid to late June, North Carolina's cotton producers can often get a bit of a breather with cotton insects.
Although the tobacco budworm can be a real headache for producers when it sneaks in just ahead of our major mid to late July major bollworm moth flight, it's far easier to control in its June generation. In June, beneficial insects often reduce eggs and small budworm caterpillars in terminals and in squares to low levels, and cotton plants can almost always compensate for significant June square loss, even into Virginia. High live budworm thresholds (15 percent live budworms in terminals; 10 percent on squares) are used at this time of year. Even these thresholds may be on the protective side. If treatment is needed, the non-pyrethroid insecticides Tracer, Steward, and Larvin are recommended for control.
The plant bug is another insect that normally behaves in late June, although these square-puncturing pests can be a problem in some areas. In North Carolina, if the retention of small terminal and lateral squares is over 80 percent, no further action is needed. Fortunately, June and early July square retentions are often in the mid-90's here. During the bloom period, plant bugs also form part of the tough bug complex that can sometimes damage bolls in unsprayed or once-treated late season cotton, such as is often the case with Bollgard cotton.
Spider mites, when they occur at high levels in drought-stressed cotton, are a nightmare to control, often needing two applications of an expensive insecticide at a high rate with less than satisfactory results. Fortunately, in most years they are a minor pest or not a pest at all in most areas of the state, and a rainfall can help trigger fungal outbreaks that sharply reduce mite populations and their damage.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on June 16, 2003 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.