My counterpart in Mississippi, Dr. Catchot , wrote a good article last week on this topic (link here). Headworms are a common problem, especially on later milo. This includes corn earworm, fall armyworm, and sorghum webworms. Typically corn earworm is the most common species present. The treatment threshold for corn earworm or fall armyworm in one or more larva per head. Count sorghum webworms as equivalent to 1/3 of a corn earworm … they are smaller and do less feeding. Continue reading
A few cotton fields have reached the point where insecticide applications can be terminated. There are reports of lingering plant bugs, increasing stink bugs, and a smattering of spider mites and bollworms in fields. This is pretty standard stuff for this time of year and should be expected in later cotton over the next couple of weeks. Below are a few points to consider. Continue reading
This is a re-run of an article posted last year. The timing is right as many fields are at or approaching cutout. Counting the number of nodes above first-position white flowers (NAWF) is a well-recognized way to monitor the maturity of your cotton crop. Cutout is defined by having an average of 5 nodes above first-position white flowers. If you record the date of cutout, you can start counting down the days until insecticide applications for some insect pests can be terminated. Continue reading
The phone has been ringing off the hook about sorghum insect control. Sugarcane aphids are being reported in more fields across a wider area. The map below provides a general status on known infestations at this time. There are also plenty of questions about controlling headworms. Let me provide some information and management suggestions. Continue reading
There have been only a few calls concerning soybean insect problems. Mostly what is being reported is sub-threshold infestations of stink bugs, green cloverworm, a few remaining Japanese beetles, and kudzu bugs in some areas (see previous article). As usual, we can expect things to get more active as the season progresses. Below are some things to key on. Remember that late maturing fields are generally more likley to have significant insect pests problems. Continue reading
First, let me state that I am not aware of any fields that currently require an insecticide application for sugarcane aphids. However, I expect this to change in the very near future. Sub-threshold populations have been observed in Continue reading
This advice is primarily for those in east Tennessee and counties bordering the Mississippi and Alabama borders. The second generation flight of kudzu bugs has been active for the past couple of weeks. I’ve observed treatment level infestations in some fields in east Tennessee and in the Memphis area. It is likley that kudzu bugs have infested and are continuing to lay eggs in other soybean fields. Below are some tips for managing kudzu bugs. Continue reading
The sugarcane aphid has now been confirmed at low numbers in multiple counties in Lauderdale, Shelby, Hardin, Hardeman, Chester, and Henderson Counties. I’m sure they are present in all the southern counties bordering Mississippi. One difference this year is that those in the middle part of the state, especially in counties bordering Alabama and Georgia, need to be alert. Populations are on the increase. What does this mean! Continue reading