Category Archives: Cotton

Brown stink bugs in cotton – by Moazzem Khan

Brown stink bugs have been reported in some Bollgard® II cotton crops on the Downs. As the season progresses, bug numbers may increase.     Distinguishing ‘brown’ stink bugs from each other.  Adults brown stink bugs (Dictyotus caenosus) are shield shaped, matt brown, and smaller than green vegetable bug (GVB), about 7 – 8 mm long (Plate 1). They [...]
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Mealybugs in cotton

Outbreaks of mealybugs have recently been reported from a number of cotton farms in central Queensland. While mealybugs are considered a minor pest of cotton, they have, on rare occasions, reached minor outbreak levels or 'hotspots' in commercial crops in central Queensland
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Pesky thrips in cotton

Just when you thought things were going along pretty well, something else pops out of the woodwork to bring you back down to earth. Some cotton consultants and their grower clients are concerned about the high numbers of thrips in their young cotton seedlings. Are they are problem? Do we need to control them?
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Resistance Update on the Road

The Resistance Roadshow visited regional areas during late August and presented the latest resistance monitoring results for a suite of important pests. Presentations covered resistance to conventional insecticides in cotton aphids, mites, silverleaf whitefly and helicoverpa, and helicoverpa resistance to the Bt toxins in Bollgard II.
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New whitefly found!

Detection of Q biotype Bemisia tabaci in Australia The presence of Q biotype Bemisia tabaci species complex in Australia has been confirmed by Dr Robin Gunning, NSW DPI. Q biotype was collected from vegetables in the Bowen/Burdekin region during late 2008, as well as from cotton in southern Queensland (Goondiwindi) and north-western NSW (Wee Waa) during [...]
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Late season pests of pulses and cotton

Go soft early Go soft early is a basic integrated pest management (IPM) strategy to avoid using non selective pesticides for as long as possible. This approach encourages a build up of predators and parasites to keep early pests in check and buffer the crop against attack later in the season. This strategy is particularly important [...]
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Silverleaf whitefly update

There are reports of large infestations of silverleaf whitefly (SLW) from the Narrabri/Moree region. Exponential growth in whitefly numbers coupled with honeydew on leaves indicates that the whitefly are probably SLW and not East Australian native Bemisia or Greenhouse whitefly (GHW). It is thought that increased host plant availability from a wet winter/spring, warm conditions and [...]
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Silverleaf whitefly in cotton – an update

Silverleaf whitefly (SLW) is a serious pest of cotton. It reduces yield and quality of cotton due to feeding damage and excretion of honey dew. It is a difficult pest to manage due to its ability to rapidly increase in numbers and the development of resistance to many insecticides. Resistance testing for the 2007-08 season indicated [...]
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Insurance spray for mirids in Bollgard II

With the Festive Season almost here and an irrigation pending, is there value in applying a spray for mirids for peace of mind? This decision to apply an insurance spray needs to be carefully considered because it has the potential to cost much more in the long run. Where do mirids come from? Mirids overwinter as [...]
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Farm hygiene important in pest management

David Murray, Toowoomba Farm hygiene is an important component of integrated pest management (IPM), particularly when it comes to managing pests such as cotton aphids and Cotton Bunchy Top (CBT) disease. Recent surveys of cotton-growing areas indicate the presence of aphids and CBT, and wetter conditions through the coming winter could favour the growth of weeds [...]
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