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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Incorporating Beneficial Insects in Treatment Decisions for Cotton Aphid

Project Director (PD): Timothy Kring [1]

Lead State: AR Lead Organization: University of Arkansas

Research Funding: $51,699

Start Date: Aug-01-2003 End Date: Jul-31-2005

Summary: None provided Objectives: None provided

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2003/08 TO 2006/07 Studies developed and delivered a new threshold for management of cotton aphids using beneficial insects. The research, funded by USDA-NRI, the Arkansas State Cotton Support Group and a USDA-SR-IPM competitive grant, implemented an early-season aphid threshold which changed insecticide use patterns. The studies were conducted on commercial cotton farms in Arkansas in close cooperation with producers, consultants and extension personnel. Decision-makers on each farm were educated in the new management plan and our team conducted all sampling and discussed threshold recommendations prior to reaching any treatment decision. Application of the new threshold eliminated insecticide applications in fields reaching the previous treatment decision point, with no impact on yield in any case. While conducting these studies, we observed that one of the most commonly used aphicides appeared to increase the prevalence of winged forms in the field. Laboratory studies confirmed this unintended effect of the insecticide imidacloprid. IMPACT: 2003/08 TO 2006/07 Implementation of this new cotton aphid threshold explicitly relies on the control afforded by beneficial insects was fully integrated into the overall cotton management system in Arkansas. The threshold is now part of the official insecticide recommendations for the state of Arkansas. This project furthered confidence in the adoption of new pest thresholds in general. This first full-scale, formal deployment of an insect threshold in row crops that relies on the action of beneficial insects continues to draw regional and national attention. Implementation of this decision-making process reduces production costs and reduces environmental insecticide load, with no yield reduction. Savings in reduction of input costs alone exceed $ 1.1 million/yr. PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2003/08 TO 2006/07 1. Conway, H. E. and T. J. Kring. 2004. Wing formation and reproduction from insecticide-treated cotton aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae). J. Entomol. Sci. 39(3): 407-416. 2. Conway, H. E., D. C. Steinkraus, J. R. Ruberson and T. J. Kring. 2006. Experimental treatment threshold for the cotton aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) using natural enemies in Arkansas cotton. J. Entomol. Sci. 41(4): 361-373.

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system Implementation of this new cotton aphid threshold explicitly relies on the control afforded by beneficial insects was fully integrated into the overall cotton management system in Arkansas. The threshold is now part of the official insecticide recommendations for the state of Arkansas. This project furthered confidence in the adoption of new pest thresholds in general. This first full-scale, formal deployment of an insect threshold in row crops that relies on the action of beneficial insects continues to draw regional and national attention. Implementation of this decision-making process reduces production costs and reduces environmental insecticide load, with no yield reduction. Savings in reduction of input costs alone exceed $ 1.1 million/yr.

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