Peanut Insect Situation
This is from Mark Abney – UGA Peanut Entomologist
Lessers – Growers need to continue scouting fields for LCB even in areas that have received ample rain. As irrigated fields (and non-irrigated fields where it is raining consistently) begin to lap the row middles, the risk for LCB reaching threshold levels is diminished. Later planting, skippy stands, sandy soil, and dry conditions are favorable for lesser cornstalk borer development; fields with these characteristics should be the focus of scouting efforts.
Foliage Feeders – July is usually when we begin to see foliage feeding caterpillars in peanut in Georgia. 2025 is not the year for recreational caterpillar sprays. If a field is at threshold it should be treated, but spraying sub-threshold caterpillar populations just costs us money. Using a drop-cloth, check three feet of row at 10 random locations in each field. The threshold for foliage feeding caterpillars ranges from 4 per foot if the peanuts are small or stressed up to 8 caterpillars per foot when vines are healthy, rank, and actively growing. The threshold is “caterpillars per foot”…not per 3 feet, and it is an average of all 10 locations. All available data indicates that peanut can tolerate a lot of defoliation with no loss in yield. We have not seen the large numbers of beet armyworms in peanut this year that we saw in 2024. Nevertheless, we need to be vigilant in our scouting and make sure we properly identify any caterpillars we see. Choosing the wrong insecticide when caterpillars reach threshold can be a costly mistake.
Other Insects – Other insects that we will likely begin to see more of this month include three cornered alfalfa hopper, potato leaf hopper, and red-necked peanut worm. These insects do not generally warrant an insecticide application
Green Industry Update
Here’s a chance to get Commercial Category 24 Credits.
Peanut Fungicide Info
Questions regarding chlorothalonil replacements; here is Dr. Kemerait’s (UGA Peanut Pathologist) responses:
“Had a question yesterday about replacement for chlorothalonil in a peanut fungicide program. An interesting question as I am not sure why the grower would want to replace chlortothalonil. But here goes.
1. Early season, Absolute Maxx or Aproach Prima can replace a chlorothalonil application
2. Early season, an application of Lucento or Priaxor can replace two chlorothalonil applications
3. Later Provost Silver (and generic formulations) or Provysol + teb more than replaces chlorothalonil
4. Specific Albert Culbreath tested and approved formulations of micronized sulfur can replace chlorothslonil when tank mixed with 1) Excalia, 2) Elatus, 3) Umbra, 4) azoxystrobin, 5) tebuconazole, 6) pyrsclostrobin.
5) chlorothalonil can be replaced by Alto on tank mixes with Excalia and Elatus.
However- we truly cannot replace chlorothslonil from our peanut fungicide programs as it is the foundation of our plans to manage resistance for leaf spot to our other single-site mode of action fungicides.”
Soybean Rust Info:
