Monthly Archives: May 2018

Stink Bugs and Headworms in Grain Sorghum

Some sorghum fields across the Mid-Coast of Texas have been inundated with Rice Stink Bugs or Headworms; or in some cases, both stink bugs and headworms. Adding to this problem, I have received several reports of pyrethroid insecticides failing to control rice stink bugs. Scout sorghum using a 2-gallon bucket and beat heads into the bucket and see what is being captured in the bucket. Look here for a brief video. Economic thresholds for stink bugs and headworms depend on the cost of control, expected crop value, and… Read More →

Cotton Fleahopper Numbers on the Rise

Cotton fields range from pinhead square to early bloom. Most fields are susceptible to cotton fleahopper damage and the potential for bollworm losses. We are finding cotton fleahoppers in numbers as high as 1 per plant, averaging around 20-30 per 100 plants. Continue to scout for cotton fleahoppers through the first week of bloom. This pest may cause fruit shed of small pinhead squares. Squares larger than matchhead size are generally safe from fleahopper damage. Once the plant has reached bloom, 80-90% of the fruit that will be… Read More →

Stink Bugs in Soybeans

Soybeans fields are blooming and setting pods. This means they are in the most susceptible stage for yield and quality losses from stink bugs. We have been running through soybean fields and finding a few stink bugs. So far, we have yet to find stink bugs at threshold levels but all fields should be inspected weekly for stink bugs. There are several species of stink bugs capable of causing yield loss including green, southern green, brown and red banded stink bugs. The most damaging stink bug we are… Read More →

IPM Field Meeting – May 21, 2018

Date: Monday, May 21 Time: 9 am Location: Near Port Lavaca at the Intersection of FM 1679 and Sanders Rd. Topics: Crop development and pest management will be discussed CEUs: 1 hour CEU will be provided.

Pest Management in Bloomimg Sorghum

Sorghum fields across the Mid-Coast of Texas are beginning to bloom. These fields are susceptible to sorghum midge damage. The sorghum midge is one of the most damaging insects of sorghum in Texas, especially in the southern half of the state.  The adult sorghum midge is a small, fragile-looking orange-red fly with a yellow head, brown antennae and legs and gray, membranous wings. During the single day of adult life, each female lays about 50 yellowish-white eggs in flowering spikelets of sorghum.  Eggs hatch in 2 to 3… Read More →