Tag Archives: economic threshold
Pest Update and 2020 Insect Thresholds
This week we have been finding low numbers on insect pests in cotton, grain sorghum and soybeans. Cotton ranges from 1/3 grown square to mid-bloom. While most fields are below threshold, we have found a few fields with 30-40 cotton fleahoppers per 100 plants. Continue to monitor for cotton fleahoppers until bloom and treat when they exceed an economic threshold of 15 per 100 plants. Blooming cotton has had significant bollworm moth flights this week but so far, egg numbers have been low. Bollworms are important pests and should… Read More →
Sugarcane Aphids Found in Sorghum
Grain sorghum fields in the Mid-Coast vary in maturity from soft/hard dough to pre-bloom. These fields should be scouted weekly for insect pests. Today, we found sugarcane aphids in fields near Bayside. While these fields are not at a level needing treatment, the population should be monitored twice weekly to ensure they don’t get out of hand. Sugarcane aphids can cause grain yield losses until a few weeks prior to harvest, but the crop is more sensitive to the aphids earlier in the season. As the sorghum grain… Read More →
Grain Sorghum Across the Board
Sorghum fields range in maturity from 4-5 leaf to bloom. This is the result of planting across 5-6 weeks. As a result of this we need to be on the lookout for a wide variety of insect pests. Headed sorghum should be checked for stink bugs and headworms. Scout for these pests using a small bucket, beating the heads into the bucket and count what remains. Follow this link for a brief video demonstrating how to scout sorghum after bloom. LINK My economic threshold for headworms is 1… Read More →
Headworms, Stink Bugs and Sugarcane Aphids in Grain Sorghum
We have been finding Rice Stink Bugs, Headworms and Sugarcane Aphids in Sorghum fields of the Mid-Coast of Texas. 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 sorghum heads per acre. Look here for an economic thresholds calculator. I am using an economic threshold of 0.5 – 1 stink bug per head,… Read More →
Early Season Cotton IPM
The oldest cotton in the Mid-Coast is squaring and the youngest is just emerging from the ground. Pest management in early season is primarily focused on two or three insect pests: Thrips, Cotton Fleahopper and Aphids. It is important to consider the pest, its numbers and the crop stage when deciding whether or not to add an insecticide to the tank. Even if it only costs $1, an unneeded tank partner will reduce crop profits. Thrips can be a yield limiting pest until the cotton plants have 4-5… Read More →
