Tarnished Plant Bugs in Cotton: Where Are They and Where Do They Go?
Tarnished plant bug on cotton. (Photo by Ralph Bagwell)Reproductive stages of cotton plants are susceptible to injury from tarnished plant bugs. (Photo by Mark Claesgens)Kyle A. Fontenot, Jarrod Hardke, J. H. Temple and B. Rogers Leonard Understanding basic biological characteristics of economically important insect pests is essential for developing integrated pest management (IPM) programs. An insect’s reproductive cycle, feeding habits and dispersion patterns help partially define the time and location of potential crop injury. A key component of any IPM program is the ability to successfully monitor pest populations and estimate damage levels. The cotton IPM program relies heavily on intensive pest sampling to aid in monitoring, especially when dealing with the tarnished plant bug. The tarnished plant bug is a major pest of cotton in Louisiana and several other Midsouth cotton-growing states. Although several IPM strategies are recommended, chemical control with insecticide sprays i
