Mississippi Kudzu Bug Update: 9/27/2013
Since the last update several new counties have been added to the list in MS. Currently we 33 counties positive for Kudzu Bugs. Out of the 33 counties, 21 have positive finds in soybeans.
Since the last update several new counties have been added to the list in MS. Currently we 33 counties positive for Kudzu Bugs. Out of the 33 counties, 21 have positive finds in soybeans.
Virus-infected soybean material has been observed almost statewide this season. The high numbers of bean leaf beetles can be blamed for some of the observed viruses; however, bean leaf beetles are not the only insects that can vector soybean viruses between plants. This specific blog update presents information on the three most commonly encountered soybean viruses in the MS soybean production system.
Over the last month we have had numerous questions about terminating stink bug applications in late season soybeans. Typically we manage stink bugs until near harvest but there are several things to consider before making an application to control stink bugs in beans beyond R6 growth stage.
Soybean looper has started to show up in soybean and a few applications have started in some fields. We have several good options to manage soybean looper and all of them should be considered. Belt has become the go to insecticide for looper control in a lot of situations over the last couple of years.
Now that early planted beans are drying down quickly and insect pressure is increasing on late planted soybeans in some areas, many are asking when it is safe to quit spraying insect pest in soybeans. For most pest in soybean
I have looked at several fields over the last couple weeks that should be considered safe from yield loss from insect pest. Keep in mind that termination rules for insects in cotton do not mean the crop is “bug proof” but
Bean leaf beetle numbers have been much higher than they have been in the last couple years. We have actually made bean leaf beetle targeted sprays on a number of acres this year. Yield loss is caused by defoliation and
Seems like we are adding new counties every week. We are now at 24 counties total with 16 of those having kudzu bugs found in soybeans. At this time we have actually treated a field or two for kudzu bugs in
This week we added four new counties for positive finds of kudzu bug. All finds were in soybeans. This weeks new counties were Benton, Noxubee, Lawrence, and Issaquena.
Several insect pests have started to show up in cotton over the last couple of weeks. In most cases in the Delta, applications have shifted from targeting plant bugs to targeting plant bugs plus at least one other pest. In most of those situations, tank mixes with multiple insecticides are needed to control the whole complex. In this update, we will attempt to cover all of the current pests and highlight some control options.
With the exception of the last three years, stink bugs have always Mississippi’s number one insect pest of soybean. There are many species of stink bugs in MS soybeans but the three predominate species are Southern Green, Green, and Brown
With many consultants reporting flushing high numbers of moths over the last 7-10 days, bollworm larvae are beginning to turn up at treatable levels in some fields now. Over the last couple days I am hearing reports of treatments going out
Usually in Mississippi the major bollworm flight coming off of corn usually ranges from June 25-July 7th on average. We started getting our first calls out of the south Delta this week. Many consultants are reporting scattered worms and eggs
I have had numerous calls on kudzu bugs in the last couple weeks, mainly from the southwest part of the state. Kudzu bugs were found in 4 counties in 2012 in MS. In 2013 we have now confirmed 10 additional counties, in which 6 were found in soybeans. Since these initial finds in soybeans in Warren, Claiborne, Hinds, Yazoo, Stone, and Rankin Counties, it has become common for consultants to find 4-8 adults per 25 sweeps, in a few cases up to 10-15 in a couple of these areas.
Mississippi traditionally does not plant a lot of grain sorghum compared to some states but the acres we plant (42K according to USDA, 2013) have to be scouted and managed for insect pest at least weekly. Grain sorghum in Mississippi can have significant insect issues in some years, especially on late plantings.
With the dry weather we have had recently, spider mites are starting to show up in a lot of cotton fields. Spider mites can be one of the most difficult pests to manage in cotton for several reasons.
Many of the soybeans are now reaching R3-R4 growth stage so fungicides are commonly being applied. I have received quite a few calls questioning whether or not to add an insecticide in the tank since a trip was being made
In the last 7 days we have received a number of calls about adult plant bugs beginning to move into squaring cotton. In many cases, fields that were treated last week have higher or equal numbers this week. As we
Southwestern corn borer traps picking up in several areas in state.
At this point of the season, we still have some acres of soybean yet to be planted. The majority of those acres will be double cropped soybean behind harvested wheat. Given the environmental conditions that we typically expect during this
Last week consultant Brian Boyd, found the first incidence of Kudzu bugs in soybeans in the state of Mississippi in Warren County. Numbers were low, but they were definitely present. Mississippi is now up to 10 counties with positive finds,
I have had 10-15 calls recently on green and southern green stink bugs in beans that are either vegetative or at R1-R2 stage with no pods. Numbers have ranged from 4-5 to 8-11 per 25 sweeps depending on the field. It is not uncommon to have a field or two on occasion to have threshold numbers of stink bugs before soybeans put on pods, but the number of fields this year being reported is certainly unusual.
A good deal of progress was made this past week with respect to getting the 2013 cotton crop planted. Rainfall during the middle part of last week put planting activities on hold until Friday afternoon (of last week) or Saturday
No doubt this is a very late planted crop by Mississippi standards, so I was a little surprised when numerous thrips calls started coming in about a week or so ago. Usually thrips issues are much worse on cotton that is growing off slow due to cold weather or any number of issues that may slow growth.