Planting date and susceptibility to pink bollworm

The susceptibility of cotton to spring emergence of pink bollworm (PBW) was evaluated for a variety of planting dates in Pinaÿ Maricopa, LaPaz and Yuma counties using historical climate records and heat-unit-based models that predict PBW emergence and cotton development. Early planted cotton proved most susceptible to the PBW emergence, however, cotton type (shoe vs. long staple) and springtime weather conditions both played an important role in overall susceptibility