The mild winter weather has allowed cotton pests to come back in full force for the 1995 growing season. But if we focus in on the crop, we see a lot of problems. McCarty said boll weevils are not the only pest concern for many growers. The plantbugs are now concentrated in other host crops, but when these crops die out, the plantbugs will move to cotton fields. Thrips numbers also are high this year.
Thrips can pose a threat to young cotton plants.
Slowed growth in April left much of the state crop vulnerable to thrips. Virtually all cotton will need pinhead square applications of pesticides. Cotton plants set fruit during the pinhead square stage. Pinhead square applications also are planned for areas involved in the state's boll weevil eradication program. Usually, we need one application, but high weevil numbers make two necessary.