Areawide Insect Trapping Network (November 26, 2014)

Results of pheromone and sticky trap catches can be viewed here.

Corn earworm: Corn earworm moth activity has dropped significantly throughout the area. Compared to this time in 2013, corn earworm has been much more active this fall, particularly in October. Unseasonably warm temperature is likely responsible for these differences.

Beet armyworm: Beet armyworm moths remain active in most areas, and have just now attained peak activity in some trap in the eastern growing area. Moths are much more active this time of the year compared to trends we saw last fall (2013).

Cabbage looper: Similarly, cabbage looper moth activity continues to increase in most area-wide traps, whereas last fall, trap catches had declined to very low levels at this time. Again, temperature is likely the reason.

Whitefly: Adult movement has almost stopped and counts on most traps are at seasonal lows. This is normal given that most cotton and melon crops have been disked under by now.

Thrips: Thrips numbers in general are beginning to pick up in a few areas, and movement remains steady in the Yuma Valley. Current trends are similar to what we saw last fall.

Leafminers: Numbers on traps were generally down across all traps. Again this is consistent with lack of melons and cotton in the area.

Aphids: Overall, alate (winged) aphids are still showing up in traps in lower numbers than previous weeks, but one trap near the Colorado river in the Yuma Valley spiked. An occasional cabbage aphid was found on the traps, all others were species not important to produce crops.

To contact John Palumbo go to: jpalumbo@ag.arizona.edu