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Field and Forage Crops |
The bollworm moth flight appeared to have peaked earlier in the week in many areas of the state, as evidenced by lessening light trap numbers in Robeson, Scotland, Jones, Duplin, Sampson, Wilson, Martin and Jones counties. However, moth levels are still moderate to high in many cotton fields that are still growing well and have not bloomed out the top. In an attractive and susceptible Wayne County cotton field on July 30, bollworm, tobacco budworm, European corn borer, and fall armyworm moths were easy to observe. However, like many other cotton fields in the state, this field had a large boll load and will be cutting out in the next week to 10 days; only about 3 to 4 nodes above first position white blooms were present.
Most of the bollworm eggs are still being deposited down in the plants, so be sure to inspect stems near fruit, the bracts of fruit, and dried blooms. Tobacco budworm moths are still mixed in with this bollworm flight, but the proportion of budworms should lessen in the coming days. Although pyrethroid insecticides are still the insecticides of choice for bollworms, a tank mix with Bidrin or another stink bug insecticide may be indicated if brown stink bug adults are about 50 percent or more of the green/brown stink bug complex. Expect the bollworm pressure to start varying much more from field to field as cotton crop maturity and the attractiveness of other crop hosts (such as soybeans) begin to become more attractive to egg laying moths.
Stink bugs remain an underestimated problem for some growers, as present levels in many areas of the state can still cause extensive damage to bolls up to about 3.5 weeks old. That means a lot of bolls are and will be susceptible to stink bug injury, as our last flower date is still approximately 2 weeks away in most of the state. Plant bugs are also adding to the internal boll damage in some areas, as evidenced by blackened squares, dirty blooms and the discovery of adult and immature plant bugs in blooms. Plant bug damage will tend to diminish during the next week or two; however stink bugs often stick around, particularly in cases of good moisture.
Fortunately, crop maturity and cutout are advancing rapidly, making most cotton fields less attractive and susceptible to worm and bug damage.
For the most part, cotton aphids still have not recovered from the knockout punch scored by the ladybird beetles, mummies and the fungus. Hopefully aphids are down for the count for the remainder of 2004.
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 August 2, 2004 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.