Thursday, June 26, 1997

Boll weevil numbers already high in some areas

By J.T. SMITH / Abilene Reporter-News

Just about anyone who ventures outside in the evenings is aware of the heavy populations of mosquitoes this year because of the unusually heavy rains.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that large numbers of boll weevils already are showing up in traps. This is especially true north of Abilene where the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program field work has been delayed this year.

Emory Boring III, Texas A&M entomologist, says boll weevils are moving into fields in the Rolling Plains Central (RPC) zone.

"Many fields in that zone will be producing squares in the next two weeks and will support weevil numbers well above damaging levels," Boring noted.

Such fields should be treated before boll weevil eggs are deposited in the squares, Boring said.

Boring said applications will slow the development of weevil populations and help the boll weevil eradication effort.

"If overwintered boll weevils are allowed to deposit their eggs in the fields that are now - or will soon be - squaring, large weevil numbers can be expected in the area this fall," Boring said. "And the reductions obtained last fall by the diapause applications will be lost."

Weldon F. Walker is inspecting six traps regularly southwest of Stamford.

Walker found an average of 27.5 and 19.8 boll weevils per trap weekly in those traps the weeks of June 2 and June 9.

Boll weevil traps can be used to determine when boll weevil control is needed.

An average of four per trap captured in four traps surrounding a 50-acre cotton field during the first week of squaring indicates an insecticidal treatment is justified, Boring notes.

Or, an average of 10 boll weevils per trap the week just before the appearance of the first pinhead squares in cotton plants also indicates the need for treatment.