Ento Update 5-29-2026: Rice Water Weevils, Cotton Jassid, Thrips

The Arkansas Row Crops Radio episode reveals a sudden surge in rice water weevil pressure across the state, with some fields seeing levels not seen in years—despite a dry growing season that typically reduces insecticide efficacy. The hosts emphasize that seed treatments like Cruiser have limited residual in flooded rice, making timely foliar applications critical. For cotton, thrips are rampant, but the current cool, rainy weather is stalling crop development and reducing the return on early insecticide investments. A key insight: thrips populations are constantly replenished by incoming adults, making repeated treatments ineffective unless timed with warmer, drier conditions. The hosts caution against over-investing in thrips control now, arguing that budgets are better spent waiting for plant bugs later in the season, which offer higher ROI. Sticky traps and sentinel okra plots are being used to monitor for invasive cotton jassids, though none have been detected yet. Meanwhile, stink bugs in blooming beans remain low-risk, with treatment only recommended once pods form. The episode underscores a strategic shift in pest management: prioritize timing, weather, and economic return over reactive spraying. With input from university researchers and field data, the hosts advocate for a more measured approach—using sweep nets to confirm thresholds, delaying applications until conditions improve, and focusing on high-impact pests later in the season.