National Cotton Council of America
Beltwide Cotton Conferences
January 8-11, 2008
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
Nashville, Tennessee
The Cotton Foundation

Recorded Presentations

Friday, January 11, 2008 - 8:00 AM

Cotton Aphid Management Issues in Louisiana during 2007

B. R. Leonard1, K. Emfinger1, P. Price1, K. Fontenot2, and J. Hardke2. (1) LSU AgCenter, Macon Ridge Station, 212 Macon Ridge, Winnsboro, LA 71295, (2) LSU AgCenter, Dept. Of Entomology, 404 Life Science Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, remains an annual pest of cotton in Louisiana and other Mid-Southern states.  Until recently, this insect has been of minor importance and insecticide oversprays were occasionally required against heavy infestations.  During 2006 and 2007, excessive numbers of cotton aphids were detected on cotton seedlings, and in some fields, persisted on plants well into the flowering period.  Recommended insecticides, primarily the neonicotinoids, failed to provide consistent control in many of these fields.  The results of field trials and laboratory tests suggest that some populations of cotton aphids may be expressing a change in susceptibility to neonicotinoids.