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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211362
Title: Whitefly management in Arizona cotton 2006

Author
item ELLSWORTH, P - UOFA MAC MARICOPA, AZ
item PALUMBO, J - UOFA YUMA, AZ
item Naranjo, Steven
item DENNEHY, T - UOFA, TUCSON, AZ
item NICHOLS, R - COTTON INC CARY NC

Submitted to: University of Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2007
Publication Date: 5/7/2007
Citation: Ellsworth, P., Palumbo, J.P., Naranjo, S.E., Dennehy, T.J., Nichols, R.L. 2007. Whitefly management in Arizona cotton 2006. University of Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension IPM Series No. 18

Interpretive Summary: Effective control of whiteflies is absolutely essential to produce high quality cotton. Good stewardship of insecticide efficacy is necessary to sustain whitefly management. Use all available cultural means to avoid whitefly population buildup in individual fields and in communities. A three-stage approach to chemical control is recommended. The basic strategy is to initiate chemical control with highly selective Stage I chemistry in order to reduce the need for broad spectrum chemistry. Postpone the use of pyrethroid insecticides until they may be needed at the end of the season. Limit the use of insecticide modes of action to no more than two non-consecutive uses per season. Arizona’s substantial gains in lowering insecticide inputs in cotton over the last decade have been due in large part to a shift to selective pest management that conserves natural enemies.

Technical Abstract: Effective control of whiteflies is absolutely essential to produce high quality cotton. Good stewardship of insecticide efficacy is necessary to sustain whitefly management. Use all available cultural means to avoid whitefly population buildup in individual fields and in communities. A three-stage approach to chemical control is recommended. The basic strategy is to initiate chemical control with highly selective Stage I chemistry in order to reduce the need for broad spectrum chemistry. Postpone the use of pyrethroid insecticides until they may be needed at the end of the season. Limit the use of insecticide modes of action to no more than two non-consecutive uses per season. Arizona’s substantial gains in lowering insecticide inputs in cotton over the last decade have been due in large part to a shift to selective pest management that conserves natural enemies.