Economic impact of Lygus in Arizona cotton: A comparative approach

In the Western U.S., Lygus spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) can cause major losses to cotton, vegetables, seed crops, and a variety of other crops. However, the economic impact of this pest remains largely undocumented in most crops. Two major data sources were used to quantify the economic impact of Lygus in low-desert upland cotton production in Arizona: a statewide Pesticide Use Reporting (“1080”) database and an annual “Cotton Insect Losses ” (CIL) survey of cotton Pest Control Advisors (PCAs). Both data sources include information on the target pest for insecticide applications, making it possible to single out Lygus control efforts. PUR data, based on information submitted by applicators to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, provides quantitative information on a high proportion of Lygus applications in cotton, but is incomplete, since not all types of applications require reporting. These data are complemented by information from the CIL survey to provide a more complete picture, based on direct responses from PCAs about their pest management practices. While the 1080 database is very useful in documenting a high proportion of Lygus insecticide use in cotton, by definition, these data on their own cannot provide good estimates of statewide behaviors with respect to Lygus management. In contrast, this is exactly what the Cotton Insect Losses survey is designed to do