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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 #360388
Research Project: Ecologically Based Pest Management in Western Crops Such as Cotton

Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research

Title: Predator “Thresholds”

Author
item ELLSWORTH, P - University Of Arizona
item PIER, N - University Of Arizona
item FOURNIER, A - University Of Arizona
item Naranjo, Steven
item VANDERVOET, T - New Zealand Institute Of Plant & Food Research

Submitted to: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Sweetpotato whitefly is a major pest of cotton in the southwestern USA, where it can impact yield and quality of cotton lint. Current integrated pest management (IPM) programs for this pest are focused on the use of native arthropod predators to provide biological control. Collaborative research between the USDA-ARS in Maricopa, Arizona and the University of Arizona as sought to enhance the use of these important natural enemies in IPM. This research has developed action thresholds that take into account both the abundance of the pest and the abundance of six key predator species. This “IPM Short” describes how these new thresholds can be used to improve decisions on when to use insecticides and how they can reduce risk to cotton growers and improve economic outcomes in cotton production.

Technical Abstract: Sweetpotato whitefly is a major pest of cotton in the southwestern USA, where it can impact yield and quality of cotton lint. Current integrated pest management (IPM) programs for this pest are focused on the use of native arthropod predators to provide biological control. Collaborative research between the USDA-ARS in Maricopa, Arizona and the University of Arizona as sought to enhance the use of these important natural enemies in IPM. This research has developed action thresholds that take into account both the abundance of the pest and the abundance of six key predator species. This “IPM Short” describes how these new thresholds can be used to improve decisions on when to use insecticides and how they can reduce risk to cotton growers and improve economic outcomes in cotton production.