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Posts From Fred Musser, Research Entomologist

Soybean Loopers and the Effect of Defoliation on Yield

Soybean Loopers and the Effect of Defoliation on Yield

🕔12:43, 2.Aug 2015

We have been getting calls on loopers showing up in soybean for about 2 weeks. In recent days there have been reports of defoliation exceeding 20% or numbers exceeding threshold in some areas in the central to southern part of the state. The bulk of our soybean loopers typically show mid to late August or even into September so this is a little early but certainly not unusual. Soybean loopers are migratory and work their way north each year from southern latitudes. Early arrival could be due to a number of reasons.

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Pheromone Trap Counts, July 31, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, July 31, 2015

🕔17:06, 31.Jul 2015

Bollworm moth catches remained strong for another week as the generation that passed through corn continues to emerge. Continue to monitor for bollworms in all susceptible crops throughout the state. Tobacco budworm catches were a little higher in a few

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Bean Leaf Beetles High in Delta Soybean Fields

Bean Leaf Beetles High in Delta Soybean Fields

🕔14:03, 29.Jul 2015

Over the last week we have been getting a lot of calls about extremely high bean leaf beetle numbers. Most calls have come from the Northwest Delta region of the state. We have actually made bean leaf beetle targeted sprays on a number of acres in recent days. Yield loss is caused by defoliation and less frequently by pod feeding

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Pheromone Trap Counts, July 24, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, July 24, 2015

🕔17:20, 24.Jul 2015

Pheromone trap counts for bollworm were stable this week in the Delta while rising in the Northeastern region of Mississippi. Based on several weeks of fairly high bollworm moth catches, protection is likely needed in many fields against bollworm throughout the

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Pheromone Trap Counts, July 17, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, July 17, 2015

🕔17:58, 17.Jul 2015

After rising for several weeks, bollworm pheromone trap counts decreased some in the southern Delta region while slightly increasing in the hills and North Delta regions this week. This likely indicates that we are at peak moth flight for this

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Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, July 10, 2015

Insect Pheromone Trap Counts, July 10, 2015

🕔16:28, 10.Jul 2015

Bollworm trap numbers in the Delta and Hill regions have continued to increase some over what was reported last week. Southwestern corn borer numbers are still very high in some areas of the Delta and sprays may be needed in

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Pheromone Trap Counts, July 2, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, July 2, 2015

🕔15:40, 2.Jul 2015

The biggest change for this week is the rise in southwestern corn borer trap counts. High numbers were spotty in the Delta with one Leflore county trap recording 668 moths in a week. Coahoma, Quitman and Sunflower counties were the

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Pheromone Trap Counts, June 26, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, June 26, 2015

🕔14:03, 26.Jun 2015

Bollworm pheromone trap counts were similar to last week and remain fairly low compared to historical averages. Tobacco budworm counts were slightly higher this week, but are still low fairly low. Southwestern corn borer trap catches have started to increase

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Pheromone Trap Counts, June 19, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, June 19, 2015

🕔13:47, 19.Jun 2015

It appears that we are beginning to see the next generation of bollworm moths flying this week. Trap catches in most counties were higher this week than last week. Catches are still relatively light compared to long term averages, so

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Pheromone Trap Counts, June 12, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, June 12, 2015

🕔17:10, 12.Jun 2015

Pheromone trap catches for bollworm, tobacco budworm and southwestern corn borer were very low throughout the state this past week. However, bollworm catches were slightly higher than last week, so we may be seeing the first moths of the next

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Pheromone Trap Counts, June 5, 2015

Pheromone Trap Counts, June 5, 2015

🕔16:00, 5.Jun 2015

This is the first week this year I am reporting trap counts but we have had most traps out for at least 2-3 weeks. Overall trap catches have been average to light. This week, the trap catches for corn earworm

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Mixed Bag of Early Season Caterpillar Defoliators in Soybean

🕔07:23, 23.May 2015

Over the last couple of weeks I have had numerous calls about caterpillar pest in young soybeans. Most of these have been concerning beans that are still in the vegetative stages (V2-V5). The species that are being found are bollworm, yellowstriped armyworm, green cloverworm, granulated cutworm, alfalfa caterpillar, cabbage looper, garden webworm, and yellowstriped armyworm.

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Seed Treatments, In-Furrow Sprays, and Granular Insecticides: What to do in Mississippi Field Corn

Seed Treatments, In-Furrow Sprays, and Granular Insecticides: What to do in Mississippi Field Corn Updated

🕔07:30, 1.Apr 2015

Although every major field crop we grow in Mississippi is responsive to at planting insect protection; field corn is perhaps the most consistent. Why is this?

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Do Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Have Value Regionally in Soybeans?

Do Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments Have Value Regionally in Soybeans?

🕔14:34, 31.Oct 2014

There has been a tremendous amount of scrutiny put on the neonicotinoid class of chemistry in recent years because of the potential link to declines in bee numbers. Researchers are working feverishly across the nation and the globe to determine the exact causes of bee decline. No doubt pesticides can and likely play a role to some degree, but there are many factors that also influence bee health such as habitat loss, Varroa mites, and diseases.

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MEA-MAPPAN Joint Annual Meeting, October 20-21, 2014

🕔17:58, 14.Oct 2014

The Mississippi Entomological Association and the Mississippi Association of Plant Pathologists and Nematologists will be holding their joint annual meeting on October 20-21, 2014 at the Bost Extension Center at Mississippi State University. The meeting is open to all. Registration

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Insect Trap Counts, August 29, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 29, 2014

🕔11:09, 29.Aug 2014

Bollworm pheromone catches were lower again for the second consecutive week, suggesting that once control is achieved for current larval populations, a major reinfestation is unlikely. Tobacco budworm catches were also lower this week.

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Insect Trap Counts, August 22, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 22, 2014

🕔10:57, 22.Aug 2014

This week’s bollworm trap catches were similar to slightly higher than last week, while tobacco budworm trap catches fell slightly for the week. The trap catches are typical for this time of year, so expect moderate worm pressure in all sensitive crops.

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Bean Leaf Beetle Numbers Picking Up in Mississippi Soybeans

🕔07:55, 22.Aug 2014

Bean leaf beetle numbers have been increasing steadily over the last couple weeks. We have actually made bean leaf beetle targeted sprays on a number of acres in recent days. Yield loss is caused by defoliation and less frequently by

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Insect Trap Counts, August 14, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 14, 2014

🕔10:33, 14.Aug 2014

After 4 weeks of high bollworm moth catches averaging more than 75 moths/trap/week, this week has dropped down to an average catch of 35 moths/trap. This should mean that once current worm populations are controlled, a substantial reinfestation is not likely. However, tobacco

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Insect Trap Counts, August 8, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, August 8, 2014

🕔14:48, 8.Aug 2014

Bollworm trap counts continue to be high in the Delta for the fourth consecutive week. Tobacco budworm counts are also fairly high in the Delta. However, the traps in the hills did not indicate as much pressure. Continue to be alert for

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Insect Trap Counts, Aug. 1, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, Aug. 1, 2014

🕔10:58, 1.Aug 2014

Bollworm moth catches continued to be high across the state for the 3rd week in a row as the larvae that developed in corn continue to emerge. Expect significant bollworm larval pressure in vulnerable crops. Tobacco budworm moth catches rose

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Insect Trap Counts, July 25, 2014

Insect Trap Counts, July 25, 2014

🕔17:28, 28.Jul 2014

Bollworm counts remain at fairly high levels again this week for the second week in a row, so vulnerable crops likely have many eggs and small larvae. Tobacco budworm counts remain low, so worms found will generally be bollworms. Southwestern corn

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Trap Counts, July 18, 2014

Trap Counts, July 18, 2014

🕔10:52, 18.Jul 2014

Bollworm moth counts were up sharply across the state this week, so higher bollworm larval pressure should be expected over the next 1-2 weeks. Southwestern corn borer counts were high in Quitman, Tallahatchie and Leflore counties, but low elsewhere. Most corn

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Insect Trap Counts, July 11, 2014 (updated July 12, 2014)

Insect Trap Counts, July 11, 2014 (updated July 12, 2014)

🕔13:59, 11.Jul 2014

Bollworm and tobacco budworm counts this week were similar to last week and fairly typical compared to long-term averages. Except for two traps, one in Sunflower county (310 moths) and another in Washington county (142 moths), all traps caught less than 70 moths during

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Insect Trap Catches, July 3, 2014

Insect Trap Catches, July 3, 2014

🕔16:21, 3.Jul 2014

Bollworm catches were similar to the previous week while tobacco budworm counts continue to slowly rise. Neither is particularly high for this time of year. Southwestern corn borer counts were up sharply this week, with a few traps in the

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