Mosquitos and Fall Armyworms

Fall Armyworms
Photo: Stephen Biles

Howdy,

  We've seen fall armyworms moving in a few pastures recently. The threshold for this insect is about 2-3 caterpillars per square foot, fewer if the grass is young. The armyworms tend to be easier to see and are more actively feeding in the early morning or when it's cooler and cloudy out. On hot days check low in the canopy for caterpillars. For more information on fall armyworms and control options check out: https://lubbock.tamu.edu/files/2018/09/Armyworm-Fact-Sheet-2018.pdf

Psorophora sp.
Photo: Kate Crumley

  Our recent pop up showers have led to an increase in mosquito numbers in places. We have several species of mosquitos in our area, and all of them breed in standing water. It doesn't take much water to provide an adequate spot for mosquitos to breed.

Aedes albopictus by Dr. Mike Merchant 

  Our mosquito populations are high right now. The two smaller mosquito species pictured above (Aedes sp.) are active throughout the day and into the evening, and will preferentially feed on humans. They can breed in very little water, and can reproduce quickly. Our first line of defense against mosquito borne illness is remembering the "Four Ds".

— Drain: Empty standing water, thus eliminating mosquito breeding sites.

— Dress: Put on long sleeved shirts and pants when going outside.

— Defend: Apply mosquito repellent when going outside.

— Dusk and Dawn: Avoid outdoor activity during these two most mosquito-active periods.

  Dr. Sonja Swiger, our Agrilife extension entomologist at Stephenville states "Using products containing DEET, picaridin, oil of Lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535, as active ingredients provide reasonably long-lasting protection from mosquito bites." Be sure to read and follow the label for any product you use. 

Mosquito dunk in a flooded yard
Photo: Kate Crumley

  Mosquito control often begins with cultural management options, rather than chemical options. Emptying pet's water dishes, flower pots, and anything else that can hold water will limit their breeding ground and help reduce populations. Most mosquitos need only a small amount of standing water to reproduce. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus both frequently lay eggs in artificial containers and fly very short distances (100-300 yards) once they emerge from the pools they were laid in as eggs. Tires are a common breeding ground for mosquitos. They are difficult to dump standing water out of, and will often hold water for extended periods of time. If you have standing water that you cannot dump out regularly, consider purchasing some mosquito dunks. These floating donuts contain BTI, a bacteria toxic specifically to mosquitos. This means the water is non toxic to other animals, so is still safe if a pet drinks from the standing water. 

  For more information on mosquito control check out these websites:

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/browse/mosquito-control/

https://cdn-ext.agnet.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ENTO-054-DIY-Backyard-Mosquito-Control.pdf

For further questions, don't hesitate to call me at the Wharton extension office, or send me an email.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Sincerely,

Kate Crumley

Plastic Contamination in Cotton Video

Howdy everyone, 

Since everyone is getting into harvesting, feel free to check out these links to information on how to prevent plastic contamination in cotton.

https://www.cotton.org/tech/quality/contamfree.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeFBzgbMO4k&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pja_HbMElA

Mystery Seed Update

An Update to the Mystery, Unsolicited packages of Seed – August 5, 2020

By Corrie Bowen

County Extension Agent

Wharton County

 

On Wednesday, July 29^th I distributed a news release that brought attention to mystery, unsolicited seeds delivered by mail in tiny bags marked as jewelry.  The role of the USDA-Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is to safeguard U.S. agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds. Regulations prohibit or restrict the importation of living plants, plant parts and seeds for propagation.  Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller advised Texans: ““I am urging folks to take this matter seriously,” Miller said in a press release. “An invasive plant species might not sound threatening, but these small invaders could destroy Texas agriculture. TDA has been working closely with USDA to analyze these unknown seeds so we can protect Texas residents.”

 

Texas residents are now among those across the nation receiving mysterious seeds delivered by mail in tiny bags.   I’m aware of one Wharton County resident who received one of these packages of seed.  This resident did exactly what we recommend, and the seeds were not planted.  The seeds were kept in the package and sent on Monday of this week to the USDA Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Humble, Texas.  Another unsolicited package of seeds was reported yesterday to have been received by a resident in Richmond.  To date, packages containing these mystery seeds have also been received in Washington, Virginia, Utah, Kansas, Louisiana and Arizona.

 

 

Investigation is still ongoing, conducted by USDA, U.S. Customs and Borders, State Dept of Ag and some other federal agencies.  Some of the seeds have been identified: include cabbage, mustard, kale, mint, sage, morning glory (generally noted by USDA as ornamental, fruit and vegetable, herb, and weed species).  Further evaluation is made on some seeds for potential pathogens.

 

At this time, USDA-APHIS doesn’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales. USDA is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment.

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urges anyone who receives an unsolicited package of seeds to mail those seeds to the location listed below for your state. If more than one location is listed for your state, please select the location closest to your residence.

 

Instructions for Mailing Seed Packets:

• Place the unopened seed packet and any packaging, including the mailing label, in a mailing envelope.
• If the seed packets are open, first place the seeds and their packaging into a zip-lock bag, seal it, and then place everything into a mailing envelope.

 

• Please include your name, address and phone number so that a State or Federal Agriculture Official can contact you for additional information, if needed.

 

• In some cases, you may also submit your information online. Instructions are provided below if that is an option in your state.

 

 

If you are unable to mail the package to one of the locations below, please contact your APHIS State plant health director to arrange a no-contact pick up or to determine a convenient drop-off location.

 

Texas residents should choose the closest USDA-APHIS location:

USDA-APHIS-PPQ 

Attn: Elias Gonzalez 

100 Los Indios Blvd. 

Los Indios, Texas 78567
___________________________________________________

 

USDA-APHIS-PPQ 

Attn: Gerardo Gonzalez 

120 San Francisco, Bridge II Complex 

Building 5, Room 505 

Laredo, Texas 78045

___________________________________________________

 

USDA-APHIS-PPQ 

Houston PIS 

Attn: Alejandro Gammon Officer in Charge 

19581 Lee Road 

Humble, TX, 77338

___________________________________________________

 

 

Updates on the unsolicited seed issue are posted on this USDA site.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/sa_by_date/sa-2020/sa-07/seeds-china

 

-30-

Defoliation, Sanitation, and Mystery Seeds

Howdy,

Sprouting Cotton in Wharton County
Photo: Ben Crumley

  We've gotten a good bit of rain here recently, and while it's been good for our pastures, it has put a damper on harvest. There have been a few scattered reports of cotton sprouting scattered around in places that have stayed wet.
  Defoliation time is approaching, and I've seen a few spots already started in all three counties. You can find cotton defoliation information here:

https://agrilife.org/texasrowcrops/2019/08/02/east-and-south-texas-cotton-harvest-aids-the-art-and-science/

https://news.utcrops.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/W376_2019_.pdf

https://wharton.agrilife.org/2017/08/09/2017-cotton-harvest-aid-rating/

Mystery Seeds from China
Washington State Department of Agriculture

  Reports of mystery seeds coming in the mail have been on the news lately, and we've received reports of it occurring in Texas. There is concern that these could be invasive species, and have unknown consequences if any of the plants establish. They may be noxious weeds and could cause problems for our agriculture industry. If you get seeds in the mail, please do not plant them or throw them away. Please report the package to USDA-APHIS. All incidences of these packages in Texas should be reported to Carol Motloch, USDA-APHIS' Texas Plant Protection and Quarantine state operations coordinator. Their phone lines are busy, so email is preferred. If you send an email, include: a description of the package information, a photo of the label and material if possible, and your contact information (email and phone number).

 USDA-APHIS contact:
Phone: (512) 916-5241

Email for Carol Motloch:
carol.m.motloch@usda.gov


  This year the quarantine lines for the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation have changed. Wharton, Jackson, and Matagorda county are all in the functionally eradicated (blue) zone. This information is important if you're moving equipment out of the quarantined zone or from the functionally eradicated zone to the eradicated zone. Please check out their flyer below, and give them a call if you have questions.

Stay dry out there, and as always contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Kate Crumley

Open Bolls

Howdy,

  Most of our cotton is wrapping up and we're nearing defoliation. There's open bolls scattered around, and the corn and milo is getting harvested. Cutout occurs when cotton is 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), and at 350 degree days (DD60) past cutout we can stop worrying about plant bugs and bollworms. We can stop worrying about stink bugs at 450 DD60 past cutout, so keep that in mind while scouting and if you are considering treatment. Most of the cotton in the Wharton, Jackson, and Matagorda area is past concern for pest pressure. The bolls they are feeding on past this point are bolls that will not reach maturity by harvest anyway, as the ones that are going to be harvested have grown too hard for them to feed on.

DD60 since cutout:

  If you're still under 450 DD60 since cutout and are looking for stink bugs, pull 10 to 20 bolls about an inch in diameter from four places in the field. Check the inside of the bolls for warts, lesions, and stained lint. The economic threshold for stink bugs is 20% or more of the bolls with internal damage and stink bugs present. Some of the brown stink bug populations in our area have also been shown to have some resistance to pyrethroids. 

Green Stink Bug adult
Photo: Kate Crumley

Carpal Wall Warts from Stink Bug feeding damage
Photo: Kate Crumley

  Stay dry and happy harvest everyone!

Sincerely,

Kate Crumley

For More Information:

Cotton Insect Guide

Aphids in Cotton

Cotton Growth and Development overview

Cotton Growth and Development

Prevention of Plastic Contamination

Kudzu Bugs

Murder Hornets

Murder Hornet Lookalikes in Texas

Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Sorghum

Managing Soybean Insects in Texas

For More Information on COVID-19:

Texas Department of State Health Case Counts

TAMU Guides

How to Make Cloth Face Masks

Cracked Bolls

Howdy,

  Most of our cotton is wrapping up around here, there's open bolls scattered around, and the corn and milo is getting harvested. Cutout occurs when cotton is 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), and at 350 degree days (DD60) past cutout we can stop worrying about plant bugs and bollworms. We can stop worrying about stink bugs at 450 DD60 past cutout, so keep that in mind while scouting and if you are considering treatment. Most of the cotton in the Wharton, Jackson, and Matagorda area is past concern for pest pressure. The bolls they are feeding on past this point are bolls that will not reach maturity by harvest anyway, as the ones that are going to be harvested have grown too hard for them to feed on.

DD60 since cutout:

  If you're still under 450 DD60 since cutout and are looking for stink bugs, pull 10 to 20 bolls about an inch in diameter from four places in the field. Check the inside of the bolls for warts, lesions, and stained lint. The economic threshold for stink bugs is 20% or more of the bolls with internal damage and stink bugs present. Some of the brown stink bug populations in our area have also been shown to have some resistance to pyrethroids. 

Green Stink Bug adult
Photo: Kate Crumley

Carpal Wall Warts from Stink Bug feeding damage
Photo: Kate Crumley

  If your cotton is still under 350 DD60 since cutout and susceptible, bollworms are caterpillars that feed on multiple crops and vegetables. In cotton they feed on squares and bolls, causing fruit loss. The last few years we had high numbers of this insect in our Bt cotton as well. The eggs of this insect are small and white, turning brown as they get closer to hatching. The caterpillars are also highly cannibalistic, the eggs are normally laid singly, but if you find a couple or more on the same leaf, count it as one.

H. zea eggs
Photo: Kate Crumley

H. zea caterpillar in cotton square
Photo: Kate Crumley

H. zea moth
Photo: Kate Crumley

  To scout for cotton bollworms I use the terminal and square inspection method. I make about four stops in a field, more if the field is larger than 100 acres. At each stop, I look at 25 plant terminals, checking at least the upper third of the plant for caterpillars and eggs. I also pull 25 half grown or larger green squares to bolls and look for bollworm damage. This season the egg lay has been in oddball places. We have been finding eggs in the lower 1/3 of the plant, as well as in bloom tags and bracts on fruit. When documenting egg lay, if I find more than one on a leaf, I only count it as one. This caterpillar is highly cannibalistic, and generally only one caterpillar will result from eggs too near each other. The economic threshold for bollworms is 6% damaged bolls with live caterpillars present. In areas like ours on the upper gulf coast with documented Bt failures, the threshold for eggs on single and dual gene cotton is 20% (20 plants out of 100 with at least one egg). If you're finding bollworms in cotton, especially in viptera fields, please give me a call.

H. zea eggs on cotton bloom tag
Photo: Ben Crumley

Cotton Insect Guide

 The current A&M recommendation is to use pyrethroids with caution. In areas needing residual control Prevathon at 18-20 fl oz or Besiege at 9-10 fl oz works well. If you don't need residual control you can get by with Prevathon at 14 fl oz or Besiege at 7-8 fl oz. I've seen a few places where folks have gone out with imidacloprid and bifenthrin, but this combination does not work well to kill bollworm eggs in the field or moths.

Cotton Insect Guide

  

  Stephen Biles and I recorded our last audio update for the season this week. If you are interested in checking that out, you find that update here:  https://agrilife.org/lubbock/files/2020/07/Coastal_Bend_7.9.2020.mp3

  On June 17th Laramie Naumann got folks together to film Colorado County's video field day. That video can be found at https://youtu.be/9VB9gZLH9EM.

  Stay safe, and don't get too hot this weekend.

Sincerely,

Kate Crumley

For More Information:

Cotton Insect Guide

Aphids in Cotton

Cotton Growth and Development overview

Cotton Growth and Development

Prevention of Plastic Contamination

Kudzu Bugs

Murder Hornets

Murder Hornet Lookalikes in Texas

Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Sorghum

Managing Soybean Insects in Texas

For More Information on COVID-19:

Texas Department of State Health Case Counts

TAMU Guides

How to Make Cloth Face Masks

Cutout and Cracked Bolls

Howdy,

  There are a lot of fields blooming out the top, and we found our first cracked boll this week. The cotton crop is wrapping up around here. Cutout occurs when cotton is 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), and at 350 degree days (DD60) past cutout we can stop worrying about plant bugs and bollworms. We can stop worrying about stink bugs at 450 DD60 past cutout, so keep that in mind while scouting and if you are considering treatment. The bolls they are feeding on past this point are bolls that will not reach maturity by harvest anyway, as the ones that are going to be harvested have grown too hard for them to feed on.

DD60 this season:

  I've seen stink bug damage picking up the last couple of weeks. To scout for stink bugs pull 10 to 20 bolls about an inch in diameter from four places in the field. Check the inside of the bolls for warts, lesions, and stained lint. The economic threshold for stink bugs is 20% or more of the bolls with internal damage and stink bugs present. Some of the brown stink bug populations in our area have also been shown to have some resistance to pyrethroids. 

Green Stink Bug adult
Photo: Kate Crumley

Carpal Wall Warts from Stink Bug feeding damage
Photo: Kate Crumley

This week's scouting report numbers:

Jackson County

Bollguard 3 near Vanderbilt
16% bollworm eggs
4% small bollworm larvae
18% bollworm damage

Bollguard 2 field near El Toro
14% bollworm eggs

Bollguard 3 field near La Salle
21% bollworm eggs
10% bollworm damage

Matagorda County

Widestrike near Tin Top
1% bollworm eggs
4% bollworm damage

Bollguard 3 field near Tidehaven
10% bollworm eggs
7% bollworm damage

Field with a combination of Bollguard 2 and 3 near Palacios
1% bollworm damage

Widestrike 3 field off 35 near Jackson Matagorda county line
4% bollworm eggs

Widestrike 3 field off 35 near Jackson Matagorda county line
8% bollworm eggs
6% bollworm damage
2% stink bug damage

Wharton County

Widestrike 3 in Blue Creek Area
10% bollworm eggs
8% small worms
12% bollworm damage

Bollguard 2/3 in Blue Creek Area
20% bollworm eggs
3% small worms
9% bollworm damage

Bollguard 2/3 in Blue Creek Area
17% bollworm eggs
3% small worms
11% bollworm damage

Widestrike 3 field near Danavang
6% bollworm eggs
3% bollworm damage
3% bollworm damaged bolls

Bollguard 2 near Crescent
1% bollworm damage
2% stink bug damage

Bollguard 3 near Crescent
12% bollworm eggs
6% bollworm damage

Bollguard 3 near Crescent
4% bollworm eggs

Widestrike 3 near Fairgrounds
6% bollworm eggs
6% small worms
4% bollworm damage
2% bollworm damaged bolls

Bollguard 3 near Egypt
4% bollworm eggs
2% stink bug damage

  Bollworms are caterpillars that feed on multiple crops and vegetables. In cotton they feed on squares and bolls, causing fruit loss. The last few years we had high numbers of this insect in our Bt cotton as well. The eggs of this insect are small and white, turning brown as they get closer to hatching. The caterpillars are also highly cannibalistic, the eggs are normally laid singly, but if you find a couple or more on the same leaf, count it as one.

H. zea eggs
Photo: Kate Crumley

H. zea caterpillar in cotton square
Photo: Kate Crumley

H. zea moth
Photo: Kate Crumley

  To scout for cotton bollworms I use the terminal and square inspection method. I make about four stops in a field, more if the field is larger than 100 acres. At each stop, I look at 25 plant terminals, checking at least the upper third of the plant for caterpillars and eggs. I also pull 25 half grown or larger green squares to bolls and look for bollworm damage. Recently the egg lay has been in oddball places. We have been finding eggs in the lower 1/3 of the plant, as well as in bloom tags and bracts on fruit. When documenting egg lay, if I find more than one on a leaf, I only count it as one. This caterpillar is highly cannibalistic, and generally only one caterpillar will result from eggs too near each other. The economic threshold for bollworms is 6% damaged bolls with live caterpillars present. In areas like ours on the upper gulf coast with documented Bt failures, the threshold for eggs on single and dual gene cotton is 20% (20 plants out of 100 with at least one egg). If you're finding bollworms in cotton, especially in viptera fields, please give me a call.

H. zea eggs on cotton bloom tag
Photo: Ben Crumley

Cotton Insect Guide

 The current A&M recommendation is to use pyrethroids with caution. In areas needing residual control Prevathon at 18-20 fl oz or Besiege at 9-10 fl oz works well. If you don't need residual control you can get by with Prevathon at 14 fl oz or Besiege at 7-8 fl oz. I've seen a few places where folks have gone out with imidacloprid and bifenthrin, but this combination does not work well to kill bollworm eggs in the field or moths.

Cotton Insect Guide

  

  Stephen Biles and I recorded another audio update this week. These updates will be going out once a week on what we are seeing going on in our areas. If you are interested in checking that out, you can sign up to receive text updates when we post them on Thursday afternoons at this website https://www.texasinsects.org/signup-coast.html.

  On June 17th Laramie Naumann got folks together to film Colorado County's video field day. That video can be found at https://youtu.be/9VB9gZLH9EM.

  Stay safe, and have a happy 4th of July, yall!

Sincerely,

Kate Crumley

For More Information:

Cotton Insect Guide

Aphids in Cotton

Cotton Growth and Development overview

Cotton Growth and Development

Prevention of Plastic Contamination

Kudzu Bugs

Murder Hornets

Murder Hornet Lookalikes in Texas

Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Sorghum

Managing Soybean Insects in Texas

For More Information on COVID-19:

Texas Department of State Health Case Counts

TAMU Guides

How to Make Cloth Face Masks