South Texas IPM Audio Updates
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8/5/2021 (audio file) This is the final weekly update for 2021. Insect pests are of little concern for much of the cotton and sorghum still in the fields. However, keep an eye out for whiteflies in cotton if you are along the Rio Grande River. Share this with your neighbors or other growers if you found these helpful. Have a great harvest! (4:22)
7/29/2021 (audio file) The season is quickly reaching a close across the region. Sugarcane aphid populations seem to have crashed in our ready to harvest sorghum, but those with late plantings should keep an eye out for this pest. Sesame leafroller has been active in the Nueces County area. First bale of cotton has already been harvested along the Coastal Bend. (8:01)
7/22/2021 (audio file) Keep an eye out for cotton aphids in cotton as populations vary between fields. If treating with an insecticide, then consider the impact to beneficials. Sugarcane aphid populations also vary between fields. Later-planted or re-planted sorghum fields than are more than two weeks from harvest have options to control sugarcane aphids. (4:30)
7/15/2021 (audio file) Cotton aphid management changes by status of bolls. Sugarcane aphid populations have dramatically increased in many fields. Stink bug damage in the mid-coast area is complicated by rainfall issues. Light bollworm pressure across the region. (7:40)
7/1/2021 (audio file) Pressure across most crops remains light. Chili thrips have not yet been found in cotton for the 2021 growing season, but keep an eye out for this pest. Late-planted sorghum that is just now flowering remains at risk from sorghum midge damage. (5:48)
6/24/2021 (audio file) Flowering sorghum in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is inundated with sorghum midge. Many acres of sorghum and corn are rapidly approaching harvest. Cotton is looking clean across the entire area. Report issues with corn and/or cotton that has VIP to your Extension entomology group to ensure any potential issue is tackled immediately. (5:45)
6/17/2021 (audio file) Lower Rio Grande Valley: Sorghum midge control is important for flowering sorghum. Verde plant bug populations are building in sorghum so be ready to scout cotton once sorghum harvest begins in the LRGV. Scout for whiteflies in cotton. Scout for cotton fleahoppers in late planted cotton.
Fleahopper populations are building farther up the coast but treatment is not needed unless you lost fruit during recent weather or have yet to reach the flowering stage. Rice stink bug numbers are increasing, but most of the sorghum is in the hard dough stage and should not be at risk of damage. (7:59)
Fleahopper populations are building farther up the coast but treatment is not needed unless you lost fruit during recent weather or have yet to reach the flowering stage. Rice stink bug numbers are increasing, but most of the sorghum is in the hard dough stage and should not be at risk of damage. (7:59)
6/11/2021 (audio file) Vegetative sorghum in the Lower Rio Grande Valley may be experiencing heavy fall armyworm feeding due to weed management. Whitefly populations in cotton are increasing along river in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Cotton fleahopper populations remain low and likely do not require treatment. Keep an eye out for corn earworm/cotton bollworm damage in the next few weeks as moth flights increase. County crop tours are in full swing across the region. (9:08)”
6/3/2021 (audio file) Wet fields have made scouting and treatments difficult across all of South Texas. In the valley, cotton fleahopper numbers seem low in cotton. Sorghum midges and rice stink bugs may be at threshold in the LRGV so be sure to scout. In the Coastal Bend, cotton fleahopper pressure varies from field to field. Sorghum midge is beginning to become active and may warrant treatment in uneven fields or if fields are just starting to flower. Sorghum fields with pyrethroid applications for rice stink bugs should be checked for control. Contact us if you have had pyrethroid failures in sorghum for rice stink bug. Stink bugs in soybeans are also low where we’ve looked. (7:56)
5/27/2021 (audio file) Flowering sorghum should be monitored for sorghum midge across South Texas with greatest concern in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Sorghum, corn, sesame, and soybean seem to be quite free of pests but the crops should still be scouted. Cotton fleahopper pressure remains light across the region, but some have been detected in cotton and some fields have been treated. Plant growth regulators will likely be needed in Nueces County and farther North with recent rains. (7:38)
5/20/2021 (audio file) Sorghum: Fall armyworm stripping leaves in places, rice stinkbug numbers going up, midge increasing, sugarcane aphid low. Cotton: thrips still high in late planted crop, fleahopper applications holding. Standing water might affect soil nitrogen. (10:18)
5/13/2021 (audio file) Pest pressure in the LRGV is light at the moment given timely applications for fleahoppers and cotton aphids. Headworms on weeds in sorghum may move to sorghum heads so be observant in the near future. Up the coast, cotton fleahopper treatments have begun in cotton. As a reminder, cotton fleahopper treatments should not begin until cotton is squaring. (5:23)
5/7/2021 (audio file) LRGV: Cotton in the valley with some cotton aphid pressure. Sugarcane aphid populations are on the rise in sorghum, but only some at threshold. Be mindful of sorghum midge management to avoid flare-ups. Corn and soybeans look clean in the valley.
Coastal Bend: Up the coast, crops are looking clean so far, but that may change soon. Keep an eye out for sugarcane aphid, headworms, and rice stink bug as we approach booting. Treating cotton for cotton fleahoppers before squaring is not recommended. (8:18)
Coastal Bend: Up the coast, crops are looking clean so far, but that may change soon. Keep an eye out for sugarcane aphid, headworms, and rice stink bug as we approach booting. Treating cotton for cotton fleahoppers before squaring is not recommended. (8:18)
4/29/2021 (audio file) Cotton aphids present in the LRGV. Watch for flare-ups if you have used a broad-spectrum for cotton aphids. Cotton fleahopper pressure low in LRGV so far. Sorghum beginning to boot and flower, but insect pest pressures remain low so far. Sunflowers may need to be checked for head caterpillars. Farther up the coast, we are seeing some low fleahopper pressure, but we are also not squaring across most of the area so treatment is not advised. Other crops look clean right now. (8:08)
4/22/2021 (audio file) While sugarcane aphid has been found on sorghum and cotton aphid on cotton in the LRGV, treatment is rarely needed so far. Corn and sorghum appear clean across the region. Brief discussion of growth regulators on cotton. Drought is the primary concern right now. (5:23)
4/16/2021 (audio file) Fall armyworm and corn earworm feeding present in corn and sorghum whorls, but threshold is generally 30% defoliation across most plants. Corn leaf aphids and sugarcane aphids generally being controlled by natural enemies, but keep an eye on populations going forward now. Thrips populations down in cotton. Drought conditions are prevalent across South Texas. (7:33)
4/8/2021 (audio file). Thrips are building in cotton with some fields requiring treatment. Corn, sorghum, and soybeans looking clean despite recent detections of fall armyworm caterpillars and yellow sugarcane aphid. First sugarcane aphids found in commercial sorghum. Weather across the area has been very dry. Corn earworm moths and rice stink bug adults have been found in the Nueces/San Patricio area, but treatment not needed. Thrips damage found in cotton farther up the coast. (7:28)
4/2/2021 (audio file). Corn, sorghum, and cotton continue to develop normally in the Lower Rio Grande Valley despite moisture concerns so far. While fall armyworm moth captures have been high, few caterpillars, if any, have been seen in crops so far in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Keep an eye out for thrips and aphids as you scout cotton and sorghum. Up the Coast, corn and sorghum are developing normally with minimal insect issues so far. Any untreated sorghum that was planted should be scouted for yellow sugarcane aphid. (7:43)
3/25/2021 (audio file). High captures of adult fall armyworm in RGV. Primary concern for fall armyworm right now is pasture. Thrips, primarily western flower and tobacco thrips, have been a concern in onion. Cotton starting to emerge with few issues so far. Cotton planting still ongoing. Most crops look clean so far, but sunflowers may experience some bird issues. Sustained winds and lack of soil moisture of greater concern than insect pests right now. (7:50)
03/18/2021 (audio file). LRGV: Cotton has started to emerge, primarily in the cotyledon and first true leaf stages. Cotton aphid just barely showing up in cotton. Sugarcane aphid just found in sorghum, but most sorghum clean. No issues found in corn. Coastal Bend: Sorghum and corn planting still ongoing. Slow germination and poor soil conditions can lead to unusual pests like millipedes, but a replant is often already needed due to stand issues. Contact AgriLife Extension if you need ID or have questions. (3:55)
03/11/21 (audio file). Planting underway. Seed treatments will protect corn from chinch bugs. Plant sorghum soon to escape midge pressure later. LRGV: Freeze forces sorghum replant. Soil extremely dry, dryland planting on hold, wind-blasting common. High thrips numbers in onions, will move to seedling cotton. Diamondback moth pressure high in cabbage. Whiteflies rebounding from freeze. (7:32)