Stink Bugs, Verdes and Bollworms

Howdy,

  This week has been a bit muddy, so I've been in and out of the field. The rain has perked up a lot of our cotton and corn, and we really needed it. This week I was picking up a few Verde plant bugs and some stink bugs (mostly green, a couple brown) in Jackson county. The damage I found was minimal, and I only found adult insects, no nymphs yet.

Verde Plant Bug
Photo: Kate Harrell

Green Stink Bug
Photo: Kate Harrell

Carpal warts caused by feeding damage
Photo: Kate Harrell

  With stink bugs and other plant bugs, it is important to look for feeding damage. The decision aid charts above have photos of feeding damage. The photo above shows the carpal warts on the inner wall of a boll. The lint and seed on this boll was also discolored. This is typical stink bug feeding damage. Adults can move around a great deal, they are strong fliers and may move out of a field quickly. Once nymphs start hatching out, we will need to monitor more closely for damage. They can't fly away, and can cause more damage over time without being able to leave. Check a minimum of 25 bolls for feeding damage, and at least 1 per acre of field. If 20% of the bolls are damaged and stink bugs are present, consider treatment.

Bollworm Eggs
Photo: Kate Harrell

   I have been hearing about bollworm damage starting to crop up in terminals and squares in Matagorda county. So far I haven't seen any live larvae, only empty damage. We need to start keeping an eye out for egg lay in fields and watching for larvae. Remember not to treat for egg lay, and if you are counting eggs, only count one per leaf. Bollworms are highly cannibalistic, and double egg lay like in the photo above will likely only result in a single larva.

Polyphemus Moth
Photo: Kate Harrell

  My polyphemus moth eclosed last week as well, above is the adult moth from the caterpillar and cocoon in some of my previous posts. It's a beautiful insect!

  Also, for those of you keeping up with the new world screwworm moving back into Florida, it has once again been eradicated. Check out the news release here.

Two-striped Walkingstick
Photo: Kate Harrell

  Last week I got a text asking about the insect in the photo above. This time of year two-striped walking sticks are mating, and they can be found in large numbers on sidewalks and walls. Normally they hang out in trees, but come down to find mates. 

For more information:

Danielle Sekula's Pest Cast #8- https://southtexas.tamu.edu/files/2011/07/PestCast_8_2017.pdf

Robert Bowling's Rolling with Bowling- http://betteryield.agrilife.org/2017/05/28/2-6/