But that may not be an indication of what we'll see in July or August. Most growers battled few insects last year, but clearly remember the tobacco budworm invasion of the state's hill cotton in 1995. Insecticide-resistant budworm numbers flared after growers treated other pests. We shouldn't have too many emerging late, which is good news for farmers planning pinhead square applications. Stewart said timing of the pinhead square application is critical.
Late treatments allow some weevils to lay eggs, and early treatments miss later-emerging pests.
Layton said successful pinhead square applications could be good news, especially for growers in Mississippi's hill section. The Boll Weevil Eradication Program will begin treating hill fields the first weeks of August. The Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corp. posts the numbers of boll weevils, beet armyworms, budworms, bollworms, loopers and fall armyworms. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.