Insect Pest Management of New Mexico Crops

Insecticide applications for lepidopterous pests are down in part dute to the high agereage of Bt cotton but in conventional cotton also insecticide use is in general down although populations of bollworm were higher than usual in 2010. Cotton mapping is being used in an informal way as growers internaize guidelines established by mapping programs.

Oomyzus incertus has been recovered from numerous fields in Eddy Co and is incresingly beooming established in Chaves Co. It parasitizes .ca 40% of weevils where it is well established. It has been released in five counties. Oomyzus has been recovered over 7 miles from field insectaries in Eddy Co.

Insecticide applications for cotton bollworm are generally down, even in convetnional fields although 2010 was an anomaly a high pressure year for many insect pests.

Oomyzus incertus has been recovered at multiple locationa in north Eddy Co, South Chaves Co and South Eddy Co, up to 7 miles from the nearest field insectary.

Over 10% of growers of convetnioal cotton are considering mapping and /or yield compensation information in making decisions about insect pest management of crops.

Oomzus incertus has been recovered from fields over 5 miles from field insectaries in the Pecos Valley

Growers are increasingly considering the impact of alfalfa on insect pest control in other crops, even making decisions to maintian it in part to provide beneficials for nearby crops.

1. At least 5% of growers are doing field sampling, and/or mapping. Late season applications have been greatly reduced although the widespread use of Bt cotton complicates evaluation. 2 Oomyzus is presently widespread in Dona Ana Co, spreading from field insectaries in Eddy and Chaves Co. and is present at low levels in Valenica Co.

1. Insecticide use for cotton bollworm has been reduced including on non-Bt cotton. 2. Oomyzus incertus has been recovered up to 2 miles from our field insectary.