Our extension entomologists are active bloggers. Go to our resources page to see a full list of our members blogs, or see below for an aggregated feed of our blogs.
General
- Cracked Bolls
Howdy, Most of our cotton is wrapping up around here, there's open bolls scattered around, and the corn and milo is getting harvested. Cutout occurs when cotton is 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), and at 350 degree days (DD60) past cutout we can stop worrying about plant bugs and bollworms. We can stop worrying about stink bugs at 450 DD60 past [...] read more22 hours ago - Cutout and Cracked Bolls
Howdy, There are a lot of fields blooming out the top, and we found our first cracked boll this week. The cotton crop is wrapping up around here. Cutout occurs when cotton is 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), and at 350 degree days (DD60) past cutout we can stop worrying about plant bugs and bollworms. We can stop worrying [...] read more1 week ago - Bugs and Bollworms
Howdy, I am still seeing a few different plant bug species around, in cotton as well as other crops, but we should be able to stop worrying about damage from these plant bugs in cotton soon. Once bolls get larger and we reach 350 degree days (DD60) past 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), we can stop scouting for [...] read more2 weeks ago - It is National Mosquito Control Awareness WeekWhile mosquitoes are an issue in Texas all year round, they are more of an issue in late spring, summer and early fall months. This week is a time to pay extra attention to mosquitoes and the locations where mosquito larvae will grow (buckets, pools, shallow non-flowing water, gutters, tires and debris). Did you know there are 85 species of mosquitoes in [...] read more2 weeks ago
- Bollworms and Stink BugsHowdy, I am still seeing a few different plant bug species around, in cotton as well as other crops, but we should be able to stop worrying about damage from these plant bugs in cotton soon. Once bolls get larger and we reach 350 degree days (DD60) past 5 Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF), we can stop scouting for [...] read more3 weeks ago
- Nodes Above White Flower
Counting Nodes Above White Flower (NAWF) is a good way to monitor a cotton field’s maturity after bloom. The process is done by finding the first position white flower and counting the number of nodes (branches) above the branch with the white flower. The last node to count is the highest node with an unfurled main stem leaf (at least [...] read more4 weeks ago - Bollworm Eggs and Stink BugsHowdy, The Jackson county Ag Tour will be taking place on Monday, June 15 at 4:00 pm. The tour starts at the sorghum demonstration on the Kulak Farm on CR 325 north of La Salle. There will be 2 CEU credits available for $10. More information on the crop tour can be found at: https://jackson.agrilife.org/files/2020/05/2020-Jackson-County-Ag-Tour.pdf I spent most of this week [...] read more4 weeks ago
- Pest Update and 2020 Insect Thresholds
This week we have been finding low numbers on insect pests in cotton, grain sorghum and soybeans. Cotton ranges from 1/3 grown square to mid-bloom. While most fields are below threshold, we have found a few fields with 30-40 cotton fleahoppers per 100 plants. Continue to monitor for cotton fleahoppers until bloom and treat when they exceed an economic threshold [...] read more4 weeks ago - Southeast Regional Row Crop Initiative Grain & Cotton Marketing Update
Join us June 17, 2020 at 7:00 am Dr. Mark Welch – AgriLife Grain Marketing Specialist Dr. John Robinson – AgriLife Cotton Marketing Specialist Guest Speaker: David Gibson, Executive Director, Texas Corn Producers To Join Zoom Meeting Click Here: Meeting ID: 937 0559 2814 Password: 118219 SERRCI Flyer Invite [...] read more1 month ago - Entomology Camp Going Virtual
I'm trying something new this summer! Given our current times, we are taking our Entomology Summer Camp Virtual!With the exception of experimenting with real insects, camp will still be interactive, hands on, and engaging. A mix of lessons, videos, activities to illustrate and reiterate lessons, outside collecting and trapping, and putting together an insect collection.Campers will get a camp kit [...] read more1 month ago
Mosquitos
- Where has West Nile virus gone?
After last week’s rains, now’s a good time to walk your property and dump any standing water (gutters, flower pots, wheel barrows, bird baths, etc.). This year’s mosquito numbers are up, but disease incidence is low. If it seems you’re hearing less about West Nile virus (WNV) this summer, you are [...] read more11 months ago - Guyana Farm Visits Day 3: Holy Fruits Batman!
Last Thursday, we visited a few farms in remote locations, referred to as “the bush” by the locals. Completely off the grid; using rain-water as their water supply, no need for electricity or using diesel generators when needed, fruits and vegetables everywhere, and the forest is your toilet. There are lots of mosquitoes in the forest… and monkeys… but let’s [...] read more1 year ago - Guyana Farm Visits – Day 1
Today was the first day of visiting farms as a part of my time here in Guyana for the Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer program. The Journey We drove to region 6, which is far down south along the coast for a total of about 3 hours commute time in each direction. Throughout the whole drive, Guyana felt like just a very large [...] read more1 year ago
