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Posts From Fred Musser, Research Entomologist

Seed Treatments, In-Furrow Sprays, and Granular Insecticides: What to do in Mississippi Field Corn

Seed Treatments, In-Furrow Sprays, and Granular Insecticides: What to do in Mississippi Field Corn Updated

🕔07:30, 1.Apr 2015

Although every major field crop we grow in Mississippi is responsive to at planting insect protection; field corn is perhaps the most consistent. Why is this?

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Do Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Have Value Regionally in Soybeans?

Do Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Have Value Regionally in Soybeans? Updated

🕔14:34, 31.Oct 2014

There has been a tremendous amount of scrutiny put on the neonicotinoid class of chemistry in recent years because of the potential link to declines in bee numbers. Researchers are working feverishly across the nation and the globe to determine the exact causes of bee decline. No doubt pesticides can and likely play a role to some degree, but there are many factors that also influence bee health such as habitat loss, Varroa mites, and diseases.

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MEA-MAPPAN Joint Annual Meeting, October 20-21, 2014 Updated

🕔17:58, 14.Oct 2014

The Mississippi Entomological Association and the Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists will be holding their joint annual meeting on October 20-21, 2014 at the Bost Extension Center at Mississippi State University. The meeting is open to all. Registration

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Insect Trap Counts, August 29, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 29, 2014 Updated

🕔11:09, 29.Aug 2014

Bollworm pheromone catches were lower again for the second consecutive week, suggesting that once control is achieved for current larval populations, a major reinfestation is unlikely. Tobacco budworm catches were also lower this week.

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Insect Trap Counts, August 22, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 22, 2014 Updated

🕔10:57, 22.Aug 2014

This week’s bollworm trap catches were similar to slightly higher than last week, while tobacco budworm trap catches fell slightly for the week. The trap catches are typical for this time of year, so expect moderate worm pressure in all sensitive crops.

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Bean Leaf Beetle Numbers Picking Up in Mississippi Soybeans Updated

🕔07:55, 22.Aug 2014

Bean leaf beetle numbers have been increasing steadily over the last couple weeks. 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

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Insect Trap Counts, August 14, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 14, 2014 Updated

🕔10:33, 14.Aug 2014

After 4 weeks of high bollworm moth catches averaging more than 75 moths/trap/week, this week has dropped down to an average catch of 35 moths/trap. This should mean that once current worm populations are controlled, a substantial reinfestation is not likely. However, tobacco

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Insect Trap Counts, August 8, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 8, 2014 Updated

🕔14:48, 8.Aug 2014

Bollworm trap counts continue to be high in the Delta for the fourth consecutive week. Tobacco budworm counts are also fairly high in the Delta. However, the traps in the hills did not indicate as much pressure. Continue to be alert for

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Insect Trap Counts, Aug. 1, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, Aug. 1, 2014 Updated

🕔10:58, 1.Aug 2014

Bollworm moth catches continued to be high across the state for the 3rd week in a row as the larvae that developed in corn continue to emerge. Expect significant bollworm larval pressure in vulnerable crops. Tobacco budworm moth catches rose

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Insect Trap Counts, July 25, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, July 25, 2014 Updated

🕔17:28, 28.Jul 2014

Bollworm counts remain at fairly high levels again this week for the second week in a row, so vulnerable crops likely have many eggs and small larvae. Tobacco budworm counts remain low, so worms found will generally be bollworms. Southwestern corn

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Trap Counts, July 18, 2014

Trap Counts, July 18, 2014 Updated

🕔10:52, 18.Jul 2014

Bollworm moth counts were up sharply across the state this week, so higher bollworm larval pressure should be expected over the next 1-2 weeks. Southwestern corn borer counts were high in Quitman, Tallahatchie and Leflore counties, but low elsewhere. Most corn

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Insect Trap Counts, July 11, 2014 (updated July 12, 2014)

Insect Trap Counts, July 11, 2014 (updated July 12, 2014) Updated

🕔13:59, 11.Jul 2014

Bollworm and tobacco budworm counts this week were similar to last week and fairly typical compared to long-term averages. Except for two traps, one in Sunflower county (310 moths) and another in Washington county (142 moths), all traps caught less than 70 moths during

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Insect Trap Catches, July 3, 2014

Insect Trap Catches, July 3, 2014 Updated

🕔16:21, 3.Jul 2014

Bollworm catches were similar to the previous week while tobacco budworm counts continue to slowly rise. Neither is particularly high for this time of year. Southwestern corn borer counts were up sharply this week, with a few traps in the

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Trap Catches, June 27, 2014

Trap Catches, June 27, 2014 Updated

🕔11:46, 27.Jun 2014

Bollworm counts this week were similar to last week’s counts. Other than 1 trap in Sunflower County that caught 593 moths during the week, trap catches were all less than 100 moths/trap. Tobacco budworm catches inched higher for the second week

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Trap Counts, June 20, 2014

Trap Counts, June 20, 2014 Updated

🕔15:51, 20.Jun 2014

Bollworm trap catches were up in the Delta region this week to levels about normal for this time of year. Most bollworm eggs will be laid in corn at this time when many corn fields are at silk stage. University research

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Caterpillars Infesting Mississippi Field Corn Updated

🕔11:51, 13.Jun 2014

There are several caterpillar pests that commonly infest field corn in Mississippi. These include corn earworm, fall armyworm, and southwestern corn borer.

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Insect Trap Counts, June 13, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, June 13, 2014 Updated

🕔11:02, 13.Jun 2014

Bollworm trap counts were higher in Lowndes county this week, but all other locations were similar to the previous week. Tobacco budworm catches remain at very low levels throughout the state. Southwestern corn borer counts were also very low throughout

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Trap Counts, June 6, 2014

Trap Counts, June 6, 2014 Updated

🕔11:27, 6.Jun 2014

Bollworm catches were lower in the Delta this week but steady in Northeast MS. Tobacco budworm catches were negligible in all areas (Table 1). Southwestern corn borer counts were also low throughout the state, so early corn that is now

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Pheromone Trap Counts, May 29, 2014

Pheromone Trap Counts, May 29, 2014 Updated

🕔14:20, 29.May 2014

Bollworm trap catches were down in the Delta region this week from last week, while tobacco budworm catches were higher in the Delta (Table 1). There was minimal change for catches of either species in Northeastern MS. This is the

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Pheromone Trap Counts, May 23, 2014

Pheromone Trap Counts, May 23, 2014 Updated

🕔13:37, 22.May 2014

Bollworm trap catches were average this past week. While most traps caught 10-50 moths during the week, one trap near Indianola had 505 moths this past week. Tobacco budworm catches remain very low in both the Delta and NE Mississippi regions.

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Moth Trap Counts, May 16, 2014

Moth Trap Counts, May 16, 2014 Updated

🕔14:48, 16.May 2014

As can be seen in the table below, trap counts this week were average in the hills and low in the Delta. This is in contrast to reports of bollworm larvae being abundant. More traps have been deployed this week,

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Pheromone Trap Counts, May 8, 2014 Updated

🕔11:13, 8.May 2014

Our pheromone traps were monitored for the first time this week. Bollworm catches were high for this time of year with an average of 46 moths/trap caught in Noxubee county, 40 moths/trap in Lowndes county and 13 moths/trap in Oktibbeha county. Given

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Insect Trap Counts, August 30, 2013

Insect Trap Counts, August 30, 2013 Updated

🕔10:10, 30.Aug 2013

Bollworm moth trap counts were lower at nearly every location this week compared to last week, indicating that bollworms are primarily in the larval stages at this time. Tobacco budworm trap counts were also low, so if a field is clean, new infestations

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Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, August 23, 2013

Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, August 23, 2013 Updated

🕔13:42, 23.Aug 2013

As is typical for this time of year, bollworm pheromone counts were higher this week, particularly in the Delta. These moths are presumably those that developed in corn ears, and will now be seeking out hosts for another generation, likely

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Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, August 16, 2013

Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, August 16, 2013 Updated

🕔16:10, 16.Aug 2013

Trap counts were generally steady to slightly lower this week compared to last week for both bollworm and tobacco budworm. As has been the case all year, counts are higher than in 2012 but slightly lower than long-term average catches.

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