Tarnished plant bug management in late season cotton production systems

Monday, November 14, 2022

12:06 PM – 12:18 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 213

Presenting Author(s)

Seth Permenter

Extension Associate / Student
Mississippi State University
Stoneville, Mississippi

Co-Author(s)

WC

Whitney Crow

Mississippi State University
Cleveland, Mississippi
JG

Jeffrey Gore

Mississippi State University
Stoneville, Mississippi
AC

Angus Catchot

Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
DC

Don Cook

Entomologist
Mississippi State University
Stoneville, Mississippi

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) is an important economic pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.) in the Midsouth region of the United States. Continuous season long infestations in cotton may result in four or more insecticide applications per growing season targeting this insect pest alone. However, late season applications may only be preventing minor losses when compared to overall yield. The objective of this study is to determine the yield impact of square loss from tarnished plant bug feeding in late periods of flowering cotton. Methods for this study include a simulation of tarnished plant bug damage by manual removal at levels 0, 50, and 100 percent in both irrigated and non-irrigated growing conditions. Removal of squares will take place during the fourth and fifth week of the flowering period. To aid in realizing plant maturity, measurements such as plant heights, node counts, node above white flower counts, and node above crack boll counts will be taken. There may be an opportunity to increase thresholds and possibly eliminate one to two insecticide applications with further research in late season tarnished plant bug management.