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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 #284012
Title: To stop or not to stop, that's the question: A guide to terminating Lygus controls

Author
item ELLSWORTH, PETER - University Of Arizona
item BROWN, LYDIA - University Of Arizona
item Naranjo, Steven

Submitted to: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2012
Publication Date: 7/20/2012
Citation: Ellsworth, P., Brown, L., Naranjo, S.E. 2012. To stop or not to stop, that's the question: A guide to terminating Lygus controls. Extension Fact Sheets. 7/2012.

Interpretive Summary: Lygus bugs are a key pest of cotton and many other crops in the southwestern US. Effective sampling and decision protocols have been developed for measuring population density of this pest in cotton and determining the optimal time to apply remedial control action such as insecticides. Lygus bugs are primarily a pest of the fruiting structures of cotton and one issue that has remained unsolved is when control activities can be ceased as the crop matures. Long term research has addressed this issue. The decision of when to cease control treatments depends on several factors including the seasonality of the cultivar, when irrigation is terminated, planting date and plant maturity. This extension circular discusses the problem and provides a decision protocol for when the last Lygus bug spray should be made to optimize yield and economic gain.

Technical Abstract: Lygus bugs are a key pest of cotton and many other crops in the southwestern US. Effective sampling and decision protocols have been developed for measuring population density of this pest in cotton and determining the optimal time to apply remedial control action such as insecticides. Lygus bugs are primarily a pest of the fruiting structures of cotton and one issue that has remained unsolved is when control activities can be ceased as the crop matures. Long term research has addressed this issue. The decision of when to cease control treatments depends on several factors including the seasonality of the cultivar, when irrigation is terminated, planting date and plant maturity. This extension circular discusses the problem and provides a decision protocol for when the last Lygus bug spray should be made to optimize yield and economic gain.