Tarnished Plant Bug: Biology, Thresholds, Sampling, and Status of Resistance

M. B. Layton


 
ABSTRACT

Tarnished plant bug is a key pest of cotton in much of the U. S. Although this pest can damage cotton throughout most of the growing season, economic damage is most likely to occur during the period from first square through early bloom due to feeding on small squares and subsequent abortion of these squares. During this period excessive damage by high plant bug populations may result in reduced yields or delayed maturity. However, current research suggests that cotton can tolerate low levels of plant bug damage without sustaining yield loss. Most states recommend monitoring both numbers of bugs and percent retention of early squares in order to provide information on which to base plant bug management decisions. Current thresholds are conservative and should prevent both economic damage and excessive treatment, provided fields are sampled in an adequate and timely manner. However, both field observations and results of research assays indicate increased levels of tolerance in plant bugs to many currently used insecticides.



Reprinted from 1995 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conference pp. 131 - 134
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

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Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998