Tarnished plant bug species can be a challenging cotton pest. With ThryvOn™ Technology, growers have access to the industry’s first biotech trait that provides built-in protection against tarnished plant bug species and may help reduce the need for some insecticide applications*.
There may be instances where your fields are at economic thresholds (i.e., the threshold where economic losses are likely to be greater than pest management costs) and applications are called for. Determine if spraying is the recommended course of action for your fields with these helpful threshold tables. These numbers have been set by experts and it is recommended to always spray at threshold to optimize your outcomes.
TARNISHED PLANT BUG SPECIES THRESHOLDS
When to Take Action and Treat — Mid-South States:†
Emergence to First Square
- 1 plant-bug-flagged plant and 1 or more plant bugs/10 row feet
First Two Weeks of Squaring
- Drop cloth – 1 plant bug/6 row feet
- Visual – 5 plant bugs/100 plants
- Sweep net – 8 bugs/100 sweeps
3rd Week of Squaring Through Bloom
- Drop cloth – 3 plant bugs/6 row feet
- Visual – 10 plant bugs/100 plants
- Sweep net – 15 bugs/100 sweeps
Dirty Squares
- 10% dirty squares
Source: extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/P2471_web.pdf
†It is recommended to lower the thresholds if you are seeing <80% square retention.
When to Take Action and Treat — Upper South-East States:
Initiation of Squaring Until the First or Second Week of Blooming
- 8 plant bugs per 100 sweeps
1 to 2 Weeks After Bloom Initiation
- 2-3 adult plus nymph stage plant bugs per 5 row feet and <80% retention
Source: https://cotton.ces.ncsu.edu/insect-scouting-guide/tarnished-plant-bugs/
HOW TO SCOUT
Finding your threshold number begins with the critical step of scouting. Here are the preferred scouting methods for tarnished plant bug species.
Before bloom
The sweep net sampling method is preferred. Sample fields twice a week and spray based on established thresholds.
After bloom
Drop cloths or beat sheets (black in color) are the preferred sampling method. Sample fields twice a week and spray based on established thresholds.
#TRAITANSWERS — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Should I spray at pin head like I usually do?
A: A spray would be recommended only if the threshold is met.
Q: If I have both ThryvOn™ Technology and non-ThryvOn cotton varieties within the same field, should I spray the whole field?
A: If feasible, it’s recommended to treat the two technologies separately and based on respective thresholds. In reality, this may not be possible, in which case additional spraying will not harm the cotton with ThryvOn Technology.
Q: What if I want to experiment with my cotton with ThryvOn Technology? If my ThryvOn cotton varieties have met threshold, can I spray half and leave the other half unsprayed?
A: At this time, it’s recommended to spray at threshold. However, you’re free to experiment with the caution that your yield potential may be impacted.
Q: What should I do if after scouting I find that the field with ThryvOn Technology doesn’t quite meet threshold, but it’s close?
A: At this time, it’s recommended to spray at threshold. In this case, we recommend continuing to scout twice a week and once threshold is met you should spray.
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions related to ThryvOn Technology, you learn more about the science behind the technology here, or you can contact your local Bayer representative for more information.
*ThryvOn™ Technology may help reduce insecticide applications for tarnished plant bugs and thrips species (tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca); Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis); tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris); and the Western Tarnished Plant bug (Lygus Hesperus). Scouting is critical to determine which and how many insecticide applications are recommended to avoid economic losses greater than the pest management costs (i.e., when economic thresholds are met).
