Heliothine Trap Counts, July 21, 2017

Bollworm moth counts in the Delta rose dramatically during the last week, consistent with scouting reports, so growers should expect high egg and larval counts in susceptible crops. Every county averaged more than 100 moths per trap for the week with Sunflower and Washngton counties over 300 moths/trap. The emerging moths are from the generation that developed on corn, so many have survived a generation on a Bt crop and may have increased tolerance to the Bt toxins in cotton. Bollworm moth catches in the Northeast have not yet risen, likely because corn development is a little later in this region, but growers should expect moths to become more numerous in this region shortly. Tobacco budworm counts rose from last week, but are still at relatively low levels, so most Heliothine eggs should be expected to be bollworms at this time.