Plant Bug Increasing. Oldest Cotton Cutting Out 8-17-17 I think I have talked about worms so much in cotton that I forgot what we have known about modern cotton production and that is that the plantbug and stinkbugs are the top priority for Bt cotton including Widestrike 2 in Virginia in our typical low to moderate moth flights. Back in July, we had a significant flight build up. But more recently, it has gotten back to a more typical situation with much lower trap catches. I would turn my scouting more towards this internal boll damage we find as well as the spots on the outside of the younger bolls. The main change this week is a fairly dramatic increase in plant bugs. I think the stinkbugs are also increasing and all this is probably explained by movement from plants that were attractive early like corn to plants that are more attractive now like green and heavily blooming cotton. Whatever it is, we have about 50% of our fields beginning to reach a boll damage threshold, and some are quite heavily infested. I think the western part of the region is lower than the eastern part of the region. You’ll find them first in the white blooms, or either you’ll see some dirty blooms although the damage on the bolls in the upper part of the plant you find when you bust them open is the actual damage the thresholds are based on. The younger cotton is at higher risk, while cotton that started blooming around the 4th of July has gotten pretty safe. I think the need for premium materials is over and I would recommend using a heavy rate of Bifenthrin or Baythroid.
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