This truly is a bug update as I am getting multiple phone calls about tarnished plant bugs, stink bugs (mostly brown stink bugs), and clouded plant bugs.  Tarnished plant bugs are being reported at 1X to 3X thresholds, primarily in cotton approaching bloom.  Almost everyone is mentioning finding 1-4 brown stink bugs per 25 sweeps (sometimes some green stink bugs).  Clouded plant bugs are also being mentioned in Haywood, Hardeman and Fayette Counties.

There are several insecticide possibilities.  I’ve touch on this in another article (link here).  For cotton that is not blooming, you should not be too concerned about stink bugs.  Your applications should primarily target the plant bugs.  Full rates of Centric, imidacloprid and Transform are options.  Against high numbers, I would avoid imidacloprid products unless mixed with something else.  If you are approaching or into early bloom and seeing high numbers of adults, this is a good time to get Diamond (6 oz/acre) in the mix.  As Diamond does not kill adults, you’ll want something else in the tank.  This could be Centric, Vydate, Bidrin, Acephate, Dimethoate or a full rate if imidacloprid (among others).  I would not use a pyrethroid insecticide as a tank mix partner with Diamond … it just won’t kill enough plant bugs.

Reminder #1:  Bidrin or any other product containing dicrotophos can NOT be used between first square and first flower.

I stand corrected.  The label for Bidrin was revised last year so that up to 3.2 oz of product (total) could be applied up to first bloom.  This would primarily be used pre-squaring for thrips control, but it would allow some prebloom use for other pests.  This rate is not high enough to be a consistent choice for control of tarnished plant bugs unless tank mixed with other insecticides.  Regardless, I typically discourage the use of OP insecticides from first square to first bloom for resistance management reasons.

Reminder #2: The maximum labeled use rate of imidacloprid in cotton is 0.061-0.0625 lb ai/acre, depending upon the product.

Go cheap, pay more!  I can’t win this argument with some folks, but if you go with the cheapest route when facing high pressure, it often ends up costing you as much or more in the long run.  You have to spray more and may suffer yield loss.  Keep in mind the cost in time, labor and diesel it takes to run a sprayer!