Back to homepage

Posts From Angus Catchot, Extension Entomologist

Bean Leaf Beetles High in Delta Soybean Fields

Bean Leaf Beetles High in Delta Soybean Fields Updated

🕔14:03, 29.Jul 2015

Over the last week we have been getting a lot of calls about extremely high bean leaf beetle numbers. Most calls have come from the Northwest Delta region of the state. We have actually made bean leaf beetle targeted sprays on a number of acres in recent days. Yield loss is caused by defoliation and less frequently by pod feeding

Read Full Article
Controlling the Headworm Complex in Mississippi Grain Sorghum

Controlling the Headworm Complex in Mississippi Grain Sorghum Updated

🕔08:11, 28.Jul 2015

There have been numerous reports lately of high numbers of corn earworm and sorghum webworm in grain sorghum. I have heard some reports of numbers as high as 10X threshold. It is critical to scout and treat as needed to control these pest. There are three species that make up the headworm complex in grain sorghum; the corn earworm (bollworm), fall armyworm, and the sorghum webworm.

Read Full Article
Soybean Scouting Report: 7/20-7/24/2015

Soybean Scouting Report: 7/20-7/24/2015 Updated

🕔15:34, 26.Jul 2015

Week 5 Scouting Report Graduate Student Nick Bateman is running a weekly insect scout line in soybeans for part of his PhD project. We will be reporting his numbers weekly on the blog. Only insect pest that are being found in

Read Full Article
Scouting for Sorghum Midge with Confidence

Scouting for Sorghum Midge with Confidence Updated

🕔08:37, 18.Jul 2015

When it comes to scouting for sorghum midge I have found that very few people have the confidence to accurately find them. Most believe if they are not finding them that they must be missing them or doing something wrong. The

Read Full Article
Bollworms Showing up in Soybeans

Bollworms Showing up in Soybeans Updated

🕔16:06, 17.Jul 2015

In just the last 3-5 there have been several reports of bollworms now showing up at threshold numbers in soybeans in the Delta region of the state. In many other areas of the Delta folks are reporting flushing extremely high

Read Full Article
Soybean Scouting Report: 7/13-7/17/2015

Soybean Scouting Report: 7/13-7/17/2015 Updated

🕔15:29, 17.Jul 2015

Stink bugs consisted of Brown, Green, and Southern Green stink bugs, with Green and Southern Green Stink bugs making up 75% of the total stink bugs caught. Loopers are starting to show up in R3 and later soybean in all counties listed but are in low numbers. We also were flushing numerous corn earworm moths in several fields in the Delta region.

Read Full Article

Sorghum Midge Scouting Field Day – Tuesday July 14 Updated

🕔09:36, 13.Jul 2015

There will be an impromptu sorghum midge scouting field day at the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville tomorrow (July 14, 2015) at 8:00 am. We will meet at the Capps Building at 8:00 am and then travel directly

Read Full Article

Cotton Insect Update: July 10, 2015 Updated

🕔19:02, 10.Jul 2015

Tarnished plant bug populations have continued to be high over the last couple weeks in the Delta. A lot of the cotton is at or near the bloom stage when it is most attractive to plant bugs.

Read Full Article

Reminder: Row Crop Technology Showcase July 15 and 16, 2015 Updated

🕔17:41, 10.Jul 2015

Field days scheduled for next week will highlight crops with new and developing herbicide and insect trait technologies. These field days will be held at the following locations: Brooksville – July 15 The Row Crop Technology Showcase at Brooksville will

Read Full Article
Soybean Scouting Report: 7/6-7/10/2015

Soybean Scouting Report: 7/6-7/10/2015 Updated

🕔07:28, 10.Jul 2015

Stink bugs consisted of Brown, Green, and Southern Green stink bugs, with Green and Southern Green Stink bugs making up 95% of the total stink bugs caught. Egg masses of both Kudzu Bugs and Stink Bugs have been seen in both regions in R3 and later soybean.

Read Full Article

Sugarcane Aphid Update: 7/3/2015 Updated

🕔15:20, 3.Jul 2015

We are now beginning to get numerous calls from around the state about sugarcane aphid infestations. Populations range from very low to well above threshold with treatments becoming more common this week. At this time aphids are being found in the Hills and

Read Full Article

Mississippi State University Turn Row Talk – Clarksdale, July 9, 2015 Updated

🕔13:51, 3.Jul 2015

    An agronomic crops turn row talk will be held at Cliff Heaton farms, just east of the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 6 on July 9, 2015.  The field day will be held in the cotton field

Read Full Article
Soybean Scouting Report: 6/29-7/3/2015

Soybean Scouting Report: 6/29-7/3/2015 Updated

🕔09:06, 3.Jul 2015

Stink bugs consisted of Brown, Green, and Southern Green stink bugs, with Green and Southern Green Stink bugs making up 85% of the total stink bugs caught. Some small corn earworm larvae were found in very low numbers in the Delta region.

Read Full Article
Soybean Scouting Report: 6/22-6/26

Soybean Scouting Report: 6/22-6/26 Updated

🕔15:37, 26.Jun 2015

Weekly Soybean Scouting Report for Mississippi Hills and Delta Region 6/22-6/26

Read Full Article

Row Crop Technology Showcase Pre-Registration Updated

🕔12:28, 26.Jun 2015

Pre-registration is now open for the upcoming Row Crop Technology Showcase events hosted by Mississippi State University. These events will be held at the following locations: Dundee – Douglas and Chris Hood’s farm – July 7 Brooksville – MSU Black Belt

Read Full Article
Mississippi State University Turn Row Field Day: Clarksdale, MS July 9, 2015

Mississippi State University Turn Row Field Day: Clarksdale, MS July 9, 2015 Updated

🕔14:29, 19.Jun 2015

An agronomic crops field day will be held at Cliff Heaton farms, just east of the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 6. The field day will be held in the cotton field on the south side of the road. MSU Extension Specialists will be present to discuss topics in corn, cotton, grain sorghum, peanut, rice and soybean.

Read Full Article

Rice Stink Bug Update: June 19,2015 Updated

🕔09:36, 19.Jun 2015

As some of the earliest planted rice is getting close to heading, it is time to start thinking about rice stink bug. We have been sweeping headed grass around the Delta for the past two weeks to determine what kind of populations are around.

Read Full Article

Soybean Insect Management: The Most Common Questions and Myths… Updated

🕔07:58, 19.Jun 2015

This is a recycled article from 2012 and slightly updated but it fits well with recent calls. Sentences in italics have been added or updated since original posting. I have been getting quite a few calls about whether or not

Read Full Article

MSU Scientists Study Tie Between Insecticides and Bee Health Updated

🕔13:07, 18.Jun 2015

By Keri Collins Lewis MSU Ag Communications STARKVILLE, Miss. — “Just mentioning bees and pesticides in the same sentence is sure to get a buzz,” said Angus Catchot, an entomologist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Media skirmishes about

Read Full Article
Kudzu Bugs Numerous in MS Soybeans This Year

Kudzu Bugs Numerous in MS Soybeans This Year Updated

🕔13:43, 17.Jun 2015

This year we have seen tremendous population growth and expansion of Kudzu bugs from previous years. We have treated some acres already that were at threshold and I am confident that there will be many more to come based on what we are seeing around the state including the Delta region.

Read Full Article
Sugarcane Aphids and Sorghum Midge: MS Grain Sorghum

Sugarcane Aphids and Sorghum Midge: MS Grain Sorghum Updated

🕔10:07, 17.Jun 2015

Over the last 7-10 days reports of sugarcane aphids in grain sorghum are becoming more frequent across the state. To date, I am not aware of any applications going out yet but numbers within some fields are definitely increasing. So far I have had about 10 reports of findings from the Delta region ranging from Cleveland to south of Inverness.

Read Full Article

Insecticide/Herbicide Tankmix Safety Updated

🕔09:04, 6.Jun 2015

Many calls have came in over the past week to ten days regarding mixing insecticides and herbicides and the resultant effects on crop safety.  There are many factors that go into phytotoxicity observed on crops from pesticide applications; however, I will

Read Full Article

Reminder: Scout Schools Start Next Week Updated

🕔07:32, 23.May 2015

Mississippi State University will be hosting 5 scout schools this year. We have transitioned over the years to make these trainings much more diverse than insect pest alone. This year we will be including insects, disease, fertility, weed identification, and

Read Full Article

Mixed Bag of Early Season Caterpillar Defoliators in Soybean Updated

🕔07:23, 23.May 2015

Over the last couple of weeks I have had numerous calls about caterpillar pest in young soybeans. Most of these have been concerning beans that are still in the vegetative stages (V2-V5). The species that are being found are bollworm, yellowstriped armyworm, green cloverworm, granulated cutworm, alfalfa caterpillar, cabbage looper, garden webworm, and yellowstriped armyworm.

Read Full Article
Managing Stink Bugs in Seedling Corn

Managing Stink Bugs in Seedling Corn Updated

🕔11:01, 8.May 2015

Over the last few weeks we have received numerous calls about brown stink bugs in seedling corn in the Delta region of the state. Stink bugs attack corn by feeding through the stem or even down in the whorl of small corn plants. Typically the area where they feed becomes chlorotic due to enzymes in their saliva.

Read Full Article