RSS 1.0Arizona Pest Management Center (APMC)
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The mission of the Arizona Pest Management Center (APMC) is to support College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty in their efforts to develop and deliver outstanding Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that address the needs of Arizona’s citizens. This includes IPM programs serving agriculture, urban communities and natural areas.
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For information, please contact APMC at https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/about-us/arizona-pest-management-center.
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Recent Submissions
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$1+ Cotton? New Thresholds?This one‐page IPM short explains current insect control thresholds for cotton in an era of high cotton prices. It reviews research on managing two key pests—Lygus and whiteflies—and confirms that the established Lygus threshold (15 total insects with at least 4 nymphs per 100 sweeps) remains economically optimal, even suggesting that thresholds could be as high as 15:8. For whiteflies, the document shows that the current threshold levels are sufficient to prevent quality reductions without affecting yield. Overall, the work supports that maintaining these thresholds maximizes revenue and crop quality while avoiding unnecessary pesticide applications, reinforcing sound integrated pest management practices.
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Cotton Insecticide Use Guide: Knowing and Balancing RisksThis two‐page guide offers a concise, practical overview for cotton growers and pest management professionals on how to select insecticides that balance effective pest control with environmental, human, and ecological safety. It presents a rating system that scores products for their efficacy against target pests (such as whiteflies and lygus bugs) and for their risks to beneficial organisms like predatory insects, pollinators, and other wildlife, as well as potential hazards to human bystanders and aquatic life. The guide emphasizes that no product is completely without risk and that informed decisions require weighing factors such as pest control performance, resistance management, cost, and broader environmental impact. Developed by experts from the University of Arizona and USDA-ARS, this IPM (Integrated Pest Management) short serves as a user-friendly reference to help growers choose insecticides that support sustainable cotton production while minimizing unintended consequences.
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Beginner’s Guide to Predator ThresholdsGuide covering all instructions and elements needed to learn use of Predator Thresholds for managing whiteflies in cotton.
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Request for Section 18 emergency use of Endigo® ZCX insecticide to control the palestriped flea beetle (Systena blanda) in guayule fields in the state of ArizonaArizona Section 18 specific exemption request to authorize the use of Endigo® ZCX insecticide (EPA Reg. No. 100-1458) to control palestriped flea beetle in guayule.
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Arizona Section 18 Request for Endigo ZCX Use in Guayule AddendumSupport for Arizona’s Section 18 request for use of Endigo ZCX for the control of palestriped flea beetle for protection of guayule, this addendum is to clarify and augment the application submitted in March 2023.
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Cotton Insecticide Use Guide: Knowing and Balancing RisksMany factors must be considered when choosing an insecticide, such as cost, efficacy, risk of resistance, and safety to non-target organisms. This Cotton Insecticide Use Guide summarizes the diverse risks of insecticides used to control three pests, helping you make well informed pest management decisions.
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Non-target Effects of Insecticides in CottonHandout reviewing 2023 cotton season trials, including a discussion on historical trends in insect control, Plinazolin and Sefina usage in Arizona cotton, ThryvOn cotton research, and early season insect control options. Handout was provided during the field tour during the 13th Annual Central Arizona Farmer Field Day held on November 15, 2023.
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Anatomy of a Cotton Sweep for Pests and PredatorsRegular sampling of cotton with a sweep net is one of the most powerful ways to monitor the density of key pests and natural enemies, facilitating critical decision-making. It is subject to individual variation, but standardization of sweeping technique can be accomplished so sweeps results of one pest manager match those of another pest manager.
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Potential Pest of Arizona Pecans: Rapid Communication (Update)A mirid plant bug was observed in high numbers on the catkins of some central Arizona pecan orchards in the spring of 2021. This was the first time multiple growers reported the plant bug, expressing concerns about potential impacts to the crop. This communication is designed to update stakeholders on the limited knowledge we have about this potential pest. Growers are encouraged to review this information with their pest control advisor to determine actions needed.
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Cotton Insect Control Trends: Where do we go from here?The Arizona cotton IPM strategy has depended on the introduction and stewardship of multiple selective technologies like Bt cottons for lepidopteran control and selective insecticides that are specific to whiteflies or Lygus control. The system is entirely dependent on these technologies and their safety to natural enemies like predators that provide biological control of whiteflies and other pests. Recently, we introduced Predator Thresholds for determining the level of biological control provided by 6 groups of cotton predators. How to manage ThryvOn has become a very common question this year, now that it is completely commercialized and growers have made purchasing decisions outside of planted seed contracts.
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Tips on How to Manage Lygus Efficiently in ThryvOn CottonThryvOn cotton has been introduced to Arizona largely through seed contracts and other limited programs in 2021. The Arizona cotton IPM strategy depends on the introduction and stewardship of selective technologies like Bt cottons for lepidopteran control and selective insecticides for whitefly or Lygus control. The system also depends on their safety to natural enemies like predators that provide biological control of whiteflies and other pests. Recently, we introduced Predator Thresholds that guide insecticide application timing for whitefly control by determining the level of biological control provided by 6 groups of cotton predators.
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Manejo fitosanitario de insectos de hábito chupador en algodoneroThe Arizona IPM strategy, in conclusion, was rooted in these innovations. 1) Science-based sampling and threshold plans; 2) A determined and intentional transition away from broad-spectrum insecticides and to selective technologies, including whitefly insect growth regulators and other fully selective insecticides and Carbine and Transform for Lygus control; 3) A strong integration of chemical and biological controls as first envisioned by the progenitors of IPM more than 60 years ago; and 4) The development and deployment of “Use Instructions” for natural enemy conservation and the “Predator Thresholds”.
