Management of Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) Populations in Mississippi Cotton Production Systems

Tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) is a major pest of mid-south cotton production systems. Growers make on average 4 to 7 insecticide applications per growing season to control the pest. This is not economically sustainable for growers due to higher input costs associated with the pest.  Previous research suggests that the first 4 weeks of bloom is the most yield limiting time period of fruit development, and no significant yield was lost once terminating insecticides after the fourth week of bloom. To gain a better understanding of late season cotton management a field trial will be conducted at three locations in the Mississippi Delta, one being located at the Delta Research Extension Center (DREC) in Stoneville, MS as well as Sidon, MS, and the other on Due West Plantation in Glendora, MS. The experiment will look to form a dynamic threshold of TPB populations in order to reduce any unnecessary insecticide applications.