ABSTRACT

Arthropod pests reduced overall yield by 4.61% in 2002. There were 14.38 million acres of cotton planted in 2002, but only 12.86 million acres harvested. Alabama at 16.1% reported the greatest percentage loss to insects in 2002. The bollworm/budworm complex was the top pest of 2002 taking 2.31% of the 2002 crop. Almost 80% of the US crop was infested with the complex of which 83% were bollworms. No other pest exceeded 1% reduction. Fifty-three percent (53%) of US cotton acres was infested by Lygus which reduced yields by 0.72%. Thrips and stink bugs were almost tied for third at 0.447% (Thrips) and 0.446% (stink bugs) reduction. Thrips infest 96% of US cotton acres and stink bugs infest 42%. Boll weevil at 0.175% were 5th infesting 2.21 million acres. Aphids (0.118%) were 6th in the pest loss rankings. Cotton fleahoppers (0.109%), silverleaf whitefly (0.087%), fall armyworm (0.045%) and beet armyworm (0.039%) complete the top ten insect pests of 2002. Total cost of management and loss to insects to the 2002 crop was $1.14 billion or $86.11 per acre. Of those costs approximately $60 are direct insect management costs.