Abstract
Red cotton bugs [Dysdercus spp. (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae] are among the most destructive pests of cotton and many other crops. Red cotton bugs (RCBs hereafter) damage cotton plants by sucking sap and deteriorate lint by staining. The incidence of RCBs causes boll injury along the field margins neighboring with various peripheral areas. The adjacent habitat/crops strongly mediate the population dynamics of RCBs. However, limited is known about the impact of adjacent habitat on population dynamics of RCBs and lint quality. This two-year field study evaluated the impact of adjacent habitat (okra, unpaved road, water channel and Eucalyptus trees) on population dynamics of RCBs and lint quality of cotton. The RCBs were sampled weekly from margins to 4 meter inside the cotton field. The RCBs’ populations were monitored and plucked cotton bolls were examined for internal damage. The highest incidence of RCBs was recorded for cotton field adjacent to okra and water channel. Similarly, the highest number of damaged bolls were observed for the field side neighboring with okra and water channel. Furthermore, the highest number of unopened bolls were recorded for okra and water channel sides with higher percentage of yellowish lint. Field sides bordering with Eucalyptus trees and unpaved road had lower RCBs incidence and lint staining. Nonetheless, RCBs incidence was higher at field margins compared to field center indicating that population was strongly affected by adjacent habitat. It is concluded that sowing okra and weedy water channels adjacent to cotton would support RCBs population and subsequent lint staining. Therefore, water channels must be kept weed-free and okra should not be sown adjacent to cotton. Nonetheless, detailed studies are needed to compute monetary damages caused by cotton pests to the crop. Furthermore, effective management strategies must be developed to manage RCBs in cotton to avoid lint-staining problem.
Highlights
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is among the most important cash crops grown globally and natural fiber obtained from the crop is used in textile industry [1]
Cotton staining is caused by Red cotton bugs’ (RCBs) and we were interested to know whether lint quality is influenced by RCBs
The results of the current study suggested that RCBs emigrate from surrounding habitats where they reproduce and feed on developing bolls
Summary
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is among the most important cash crops grown globally and natural fiber obtained from the crop is used in textile industry [1]. Nymphs and adults feed on bolls and ripened seeds [27] These bugs are serious pests of cotton, and infest several other crops, including okra, hollyhock and hibiscus [28]. The RCBs are sap sucking insect pests of okra They did not reduce the yield significantly, but lower fruit quality by inflicting a rusty appearance on the surface [33]. Numerous questions remain unanswered about the influence of adjacent agronomic crops and wild hosts on the movement and development of RCBs along the margins of cotton fields To address these critical questions, current study was planned to infer the impact of peripheral areas of population dynamics of RCBs. inferring the impact of RCBs on quality and quantity of cotton was the second objective of the study
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