Departments of Plant Pathology and Entomology
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University


Photograph of NCSU Belltower FIELD
AND
FORAGE
CROPS



North Carolina Pest News
Volume 11, Number 1, April 19, 1996
Stephen J. Toth, Jr. and Thomas A. Melton, editors

Caution!
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina
and may not apply in other areas.

From: Jack S. Bacheler, Extension Entomologist, NCSU


Thrips Management in Cotton

Thrips management and an early, vigorous start for the crop should be the two major areas of focus by cotton producers during the next 6 weeks. Outside of the label-mandated use of Thimet and Di-Syston along with Command herbicide, Temik will remain the primary at- planting insecticide of most of our producers. Payload, with its less restrictive Worker Protection Safety Standard requirement, may be an attractive option to producers, although the product's persistence may lag behind Temik's. From the present time through the first 10 days in May, the higher 0.75 pound rate of active ingredient of Temik and 1.0 pound rate of active ingredient of the remaining products are in order. Longer persistence of an at- planting insecticide often translates into fewer foliar sprays for thrips later, which in turn lessens the need to treat for June tobacco budworms. Gaucho, a very safe, convenient seed treatment, provided good stand establishment, fruit load, maturity, and yields in three North Carolina and one Virginia test last year. However, due to its lack of persistence (adult and immature thrips were established earlier than with the other treatments in these tests), I would recommend producers consider this product on limited acreage until more testing has been completed. A recent, more detailed article on thrips management in Southeast Farm Press has been mailed electronically to county agents in Dr. Keith Edmisten's Cotton Notes.


An Early Start for Cotton Important for Insect Management

This is the time of the year to consider the significant impact of an early cotton crop (or at least avoidance of a late crop) on minimizing the attractiveness and susceptibility of that crop to late season insects, particularly bollworms and European corn borers (and stink bugs in the case of B.t. Bollgard cotton). Although all production practices which hasten maturity should be considered, an early planting date (mid to late April through the first 7 to 10 days in May) is probably the single most important factor in minimizing late season insect (and other) problems. See Dr. Keith Edmisten's Developing a Management Strategy: Short- Season Timeliness, pages 16-18 in 1996 Cotton Information, for a discussion of earliness.

Because the recurrent parents, DP-5415 and DP-5690, of the two genetically-modified B.t. lines NuCOTN 33b and NuCOTN 35b are late-maturing under typical North Carolina conditions, early planting is suggested for these transgenic varieties.


Predicting Cotton Insect Problems in 1996

In the case of cotton, the severity of the previous winter seems to provide very little clue as to what the upcoming year holds for most of our major insect pests. The winter preceding the state's 1977 crop season was one of the most severe up to that time, yet that growing season witnessed very serious bollworm, budworm and armyworm outbreaks. Spring and early summer weather will be the main driving force in determining the timing and abundance of our major caterpillar pests. With any luck, our insects are likely off to a slower-than-usual start.

Because boll weevils overwinter above the ground and are susceptible to cold winters, our very severe 1995/1996 winter in the Southeast likely resulted in substantial boll weevil mortality. Given the high 1995 numbers of weevils trapped in Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia, this could be a real blessing for the boll weevil programs in these states.


Upcoming Information on Cotton Insect Scouting and Management

In the coming weeks, I will discuss scouting for thrips and plant bugs. Today marks the beginning of the cotton Teletips, containing weekly updates on a variety of subjects related to cotton production. In the initial two and a one-half months, Teletips will address weed, insect and agronomic considerations. At the mid-July onset of our more serious insect problems, the twice a week Teletip tapes will be primarily devoted to insect management. The toll-free number is 1-800-662-7301 (tape number 11 is cotton information).


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Web page last updated on 22 April 1996 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr..

This Web version is a cooperative effort between the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the Center for Integrated Pest Management