There have been several reports of treatable levels of cotton fleahoppers in cotton. Herbicide applications and destruction of weed hosts is likely behind increased fleahopper activity in cotton at some locations. Cotton fleahoppers can cause substantial square loss if present in sufficient numbers especially during the first three weeks of squaring. They are much smaller in size than the lygus bug and are pale green in color. Both adults and immatures feed on small squares, causing them to shed. When scouting it is important to visually examine the terminal of plants which is where fleahoppers normally concentrate, watch any adults taking flight and monitor square retention. Include both adults and immatures in the count. The economic threshold for South Plains cotton is 25-30 fleahoppers per 100 terminals. Cotton fleahopper is relatively easy to control with insecticides. Insecticides that are commonly used include Carbine, Centric, imidacloprid, Intruder Max, acephate, and dicrotophos.
Scouting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epVctkRkTHs&ab_channel=TexasA%26MAgriLifeExtensionEntomology
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| Cotton fleahopper immature (pic: Xandra Morris) |
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| Cotton fleahopper adult (pic: Salvador Vitanza) |
