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Posts From Don Cook, Entomologist

2025 Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper Distribution

2025 Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper Distribution Updated

🕔07:37, 12.Sep 2025

As of this week, the two-spotted cotton leafhopper has been confirmed in very low numbers in two counties within the state. We will continue monitoring populations throughout the fall and will resume surveillance efforts in the spring. For more information

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Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper / Cotton Jassid Update

Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper / Cotton Jassid Update Updated

🕔17:31, 8.Sep 2025

Over the past several weeks, we have been in communication with our colleagues in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama who have been battling the two-spotted cotton leafhopper (TSCL), also commonly referred to as the cotton jassid. The two-spotted cotton

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Rice Delphacid

Rice Delphacid Updated

🕔18:51, 6.Sep 2025

Rice delphacid is a non-native planthopper pest of rice.  This insect has occurred in the rice growing area of Southeast Texas since ca. 2015. It has been a sporadic problem in second crop or ratoon rice in this area.  During

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/16/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/16/2025 Updated

🕔17:09, 15.Aug 2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 9, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Copiah 3 0 0 0 Lowndes 2 0 0 0 Madison 3 1 0.33 1 Marshall 2 0

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 8/9/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 8/9/2025 Updated

🕔11:52, 9.Aug 2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 9, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Desoto 2 0 0 0 Lowndes 4 0 0 0 Madison 3 0 0 0 Marshall 3 0

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/2/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/2/2025 Updated

🕔10:25, 2.Aug 2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending August 2, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Desoto 2 0 0 0 Grenada 4 0 0 0 Hinds 2 0

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Approved Section 18 for Intrepid 2F for Fall Armyworm in Rice

Approved Section 18 for Intrepid 2F for Fall Armyworm in Rice Updated

🕔10:06, 2.Aug 2025

In response to reports of fall armyworm infesting rice in Mississippi during early July. We requested a Section 18 use permit for Intrepid 2F in rice.  This was granted on August 1. Up to two applications may be made at

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Insecticide Termination Guidelines for Cotton and Soybean in Mississippi

Insecticide Termination Guidelines for Cotton and Soybean in Mississippi Updated

🕔11:26, 1.Aug 2025

As crops across Mississippi approach maturity, it’s critical to understand the appropriate timing for terminating insecticide applications in both cotton and soybean. Making these decisions at the correct time helps avoid unnecessary input costs without risking yield losses. Below are

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/26/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/26/2025 Updated

🕔11:36, 26.Jul 2025

Eighty-three traps across 29 Mississippi counties detected very low southwestern corn borer activity. Only five counties reported the presence of moths, with Leflore reporting the highest count (8 moths in 9 traps). Since most of the state’s corn is approaching

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/19/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/19/2025 Updated

🕔14:12, 18.Jul 2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Trapping Program Week Ending July 19, 2025 County Traps Reporting Total Reported Avg/Trap Maximum/Trap Alcorn 3 0 0 0 Calhoun 1 0 0 0 Carroll 2 2 1 2 Coahoma 4 0 0 0 Copiah 3 0

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Insecticide Rainfastness

Insecticide Rainfastness Updated

🕔06:32, 16.Jul 2025

Over the last few weeks, much of the state has experienced rainfall every few days, creating challenges for pest management in row crops. Unsurprisingly, one of the most common questions that comes up during wet periods is: How rainfast are

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Bollworm Management in Soybeans and Cotton

Bollworm Management in Soybeans and Cotton Updated

🕔17:56, 15.Jul 2025

Bollworm Management in Soybeans Early July starts the onset of the bollworm flight into Mississippi row crops. At this point, bollworms have been observed in a some areas of the state in R2-R3 soybeans. Most of the larvae being found

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 7/12/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 7/12/2025 Updated

🕔08:52, 12.Jul 2025

Trapping results this week indicate very low southwestern corn borer activity across the state, with only a few isolated instances of minimal trap catches in Leflore, Madison, and Tallahatchie counties. These findings suggest that southwestern corn borer populations remain well

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Spider Mite Management in Cotton: Key Considerations During Hot, Dry Conditions

Spider Mite Management in Cotton: Key Considerations During Hot, Dry Conditions Updated

🕔07:58, 8.Jul 2025

As hot and dry weather becomes more common across Mississippi, spider mite populations have the potential to reach treatable levels in areas. Effective management depends on timely decisions based on field scouting, pest interactions, product selection, and weather forecasts. Consider

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Tarnished Plant Bug: Timing, Tools, and Tactics.

Tarnished Plant Bug: Timing, Tools, and Tactics. Updated

🕔07:58, 8.Jul 2025

As tarnished plant bug (TPB) populations continue increasing across Mississippi cotton acres, it’s important to revisit best management practices (BMPs) to protect yield and profitability. TPB continues to be the most economically significant insect pest in the region, and heavy

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/5/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/5/2025 Updated

🕔09:34, 5.Jul 2025

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 6/28/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 6/28/2025 Updated

🕔08:29, 28.Jun 2025

Southwestern corn borer trap counts continue to remain low across the state.

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 6/21/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 6/21/2025 Updated

🕔11:51, 21.Jun 2025

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 6/14/2025

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring Program – Week Ending 6/14/2025 Updated

🕔11:53, 14.Jun 2025

Trap deployment began this week, so minimal trap numbers are being reported. However, no corn borers were detected in the limited traps that were reported.

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Brown Stink Bugs in Seedling Corn: Scouting and Management

Brown Stink Bugs in Seedling Corn: Scouting and Management Updated

🕔14:56, 2.May 2025

Over the past week, several reports have emerged of brown stink bugs infesting seedling corn. These pests cause damage by feeding on the stems of young corn plants. The severity of feeding damage can vary. Less severe initial damage symptoms

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Significance of Planting Date for Tarnished Plant Bug Management in Cotton

Significance of Planting Date for Tarnished Plant Bug Management in Cotton Updated

🕔09:22, 14.Mar 2025

With planting season right around the corner, it is important to discuss the role that planting dates play in cotton from an arthropod pest management standpoint. I am specifically referring to tarnished plant bugs, as they can be extremely destructive

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 8/17/2024

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending 8/17/2024 Updated

🕔07:58, 19.Aug 2024

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/10/2024

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 8/10/2024 Updated

🕔11:40, 10.Aug 2024

We have seen our first large spike in Southwestern corn borer of the growing season in the central to northern portion of the state. Fortunately, timely planted corn should be nearing a stage where borers are not much of a

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending August 3, 2024

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week Ending August 3, 2024 Updated

🕔16:45, 5.Aug 2024

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Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/27/2024

Southwestern Corn Borer Monitoring – Week ending 7/27/2024 Updated

🕔22:22, 26.Jul 2024

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