Cotton insecticide use guide: Knowing and balancing risks

Authors: BORDINI, I - University Of Arizona; FOURNIER, S - University Of Arizona; Naranjo, Steven; PIER, N - University Of Arizona; ELLSWORTH, P - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2020
Publication Date: 7/14/2020
Citation: Bordini, I., Fournier, S., Naranjo, S.E., Pier, N., Ellsworth, P.C. 2020. Cotton insecticide use guide: Knowing and balancing risks. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. 1-2.

Interpretive Summary: Insecticides remain an important management tool for controlling pest insects in cotton systems in the western USA. Many factors must be considered when choosing an insecticide, such as cost, efficacy, risk of resistance, and safety to non-target organisms. This Cotton Insecticide Use Guide summarizes the diverse risks of insecticides used to control three key cotton pests, helping growers make well informed pest management decisions. Available insecticides for control of cotton insect pests are categorized as either fully selective, partially selective or not selective. A material is selective if it can kill the pest insect but is harmless to a diversity of beneficial insects, including arthropod predators and parasitoids that can provide biological control services. Growers are encouraged to use selective materials when they can and should consider the broad set of risks associated with insecticide use and avoid the false economy of always choosing the “cheapest” insecticide. The IPM goal should be to identify, balance and prioritize all insecticide risks, considering them on a case-by-case basis, for each grower and system. This guide provides a table showing all of the available insecticides for cotton insect control along with a wealth of information on associated efficacy and risk. This will provide essential information to growers and pest control advisors managing insect pests in Arizona and elsewhere in western USA cotton production systems.

Technical Abstract: Insecticides remain an important management tool for controlling pest insects in cotton systems in the western USA. Many factors must be considered when choosing an insecticide, such as cost, efficacy, risk of resistance, and safety to non-target organisms. This Cotton Insecticide Use Guide summarizes the diverse risks of insecticides used to control three key cotton pests, helping growers make well informed pest management decisions. Available insecticides for control of cotton insect pests are categorized as either fully selective, partially selective or not selective. A material is selective if it can kill the pest insect but is harmless to a diversity of beneficial insects, including arthropod predators and parasitoids that can provide biological control services. Growers are encouraged to use selective materials when they can and should consider the broad set of risks associated with insecticide use and avoid the false economy of always choosing the “cheapest” insecticide. The IPM goal should be to identify, balance and prioritize all insecticide risks, considering them on a case-by-case basis, for each grower and system. This guide provides a table showing all of the available insecticides for cotton insect control along with a wealth of information on associated efficacy and risk. This will provide essential information to growers and pest control advisors managing insect pests in Arizona and elsewhere in western USA cotton production systems.