Cotton Insect Pest Management

Abstract

Cotton production is challenged worldwide by a diversity of arthropod pests that require management to prevent or reduce crop damage. Advances in arthropod control technologies and improved insect and crop management systems have dramatically reduced levels of arthropod damage and the need for insecticidal control of several key pests in cotton over the past 30 yr. The near-complete eradication of boll weevil (Anthonomous grandis Boheman) from the United States and the worldwide deployment of transgenic cottons expressing insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt cotton) are among the most notable advances. Insects and mites are highly adaptable, and new pest problems have emerged that continue to challenge or limit cotton production and profitability. In this update of cotton insect pest management, we review evolving technologies for cotton arthropod management, the purposeful deployment of resistance management programs, dynamic responses of arthropod pests to management actions, and improved integration of insect and crop management systems. We emphasize ecological context, including varying spatial scales of management, and the adaptive capacity of the arthropods impacted by management decisions as continuing influences on humankind’s effort to limit arthropod damage to cotton. Extraordinary changes in management of insects and mites attacking cotton (Gossypium L.) have transpired since Ridgway et al. (1984) reviewed cotton protection practices in the previous Agronomy Monograph, Cotton. Reviews published subsequent to that period (Frisbie and Adkisson, 1985; Frisbie et al., 1989; Luttrell et al., 1994; Luttrell, 1994; Fitt, 1994; Ramalho, 1994; Sugonyaev, 1994; Smith, 1998; Fitt, 2000; Hardee and Harris, 2003; Wu and Guo, 2005; Allen, 2008; Spurgeon, 2008; Wu et al., 2008; Naranjo and Luttrell, 2009) provide detailed information on cotton insects and chronicle changes in insect management strategies in response to new pests, advances in control technologies, and changing management structures associated with insect resistance management and government regulations. Of particular relevance are comprehensive reviews by Matthews and Tunstall (1994), King et al. (1996), and Dickerson et al. (2001). Abbreviations: IPM, integrated pest management; NAWF, nodes above white flower. Randall G. Luttrell, USDA-ARS, Southern Insect Management Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Rd., Stoneville, MS 38776. Tina G. Teague, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture and Arkansas State University, 245 Agriculture Bldg., Jonesboro, AR 72467 (tteague@astate.edu). Michael J. Brewer, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, 10345 Hwy. 44, Corpus Christi, TX 78406 (mjbrewer@ag.tamu.edu). *Corresponding author (randy.luttrell@ars.usda.gov). doi:10.2134/agronmonogr57.2014.0072 Copyright © 2015. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711, USA. Cotton. 2nd. ed. David D. Fang and Richard G. Percy, editors. Agronomy Monograph 57. Published August 6, 2015