There have been several reports about treatment level, and in some cases very high, infestations of southwestern corn borer in non-Bt corn. I’ve written a few recent articles about dealing with this pest (see links below). There are a few other Continue reading
Last week I reported the results of a foliar insecticide test for thrips on cotton at the WTREC (sprayed 5/18, rated 5/21). Cotton was at the 1-leaf stage at the time of application, and an at-planting insecticide or seed treatment was not used. A follow-up application was made Continue reading
Phone calls about threecornered alfalfa hopper (TCAH) have ballooned this week. Tennessee is on the northern edge of their distribution, so we sometimes see low populations in early season following a harsh winter. But with the mild winter last year, TCAH appear to be off to an early start. These insects have piercing-sucking mouthparts and will feed in a circular pattern (girdle) around stems and Continue reading
As our earliest cotton is beginning to square, below are a few bullet points to remember. We need to be especially alert considering the unusual season we have had thus far. There almost certainly has been an extra generation of tarnished plant bugs give the early spring we had this year.
Japanese beetles are getting more and more numerous, and like a lot of insects this year, populations are ahead of schedule. Japanese beetles will feed in corn, soybean and cotton. These showy beetles often hang out in groups and draw a lot of attention. Fortunately, they only occasionally cause yield loss in field crops. The beetles will feed on Continue reading
Given the high moth catches in pheromone traps, particularly in the West Tennessee counties bordering Kentucky, there are certainly some non-Bt corn fields that are (or will be) infested with damaging populations of Continue reading
Calls have diminished about false chinch bugs in cotton. However, calls about new infestations are still trickling in, so we are not necessarily out of the woods. There have been many fields treated with insecticide, and spot replanting was also needed in Continue reading
Below are the results of a foliar insecticide test on thrips in cotton at the WTREC (rated 5/21/12). Cotton was at the 1-leaf stage at the time of application, and Continue reading