TEN YEARS OF THE COTTON APHID FUNGUS SAMPLING SERVICE

摘要

The cotton aphid fungus sampling service is an extension-based program that helps growers reduce input costs by predicting natural control of cotton aphids by the entompathogenic fungus, Neozygites fresenii. This fungus has been active in reducing aphid populations, particularly outbreak populations, in the Midsouth and Southeast since 1989. The aphid fungus sampling service was started in 1993 in Arkansas and has been enlarged in subsequent years. It now includes participants in Alabama, Arkansas,Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The service is funded by Cotton Incorporated and the University of Arkansas. The service provides extension agents, consultants, researchers, and growers, with precise information on the prevalence of the aphid fungus within their fields and counties. When the fungus is actively decimating aphid populations insecticide application for cotton aphids is generally not warranted with resultant monetary savings for producers.