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This report summarizes the results of the 2nd year of a proposed 3-4 year research and demonstration project in biological pest control, soil conservation and production economics. The goal of this project is to develop a comprehensive, sustainable production system for cotton in post-eradication Georgia and the Southeast.
Sweep, pitfall traps, whole plant/shake samples, and Heliothis-egg predation experiments were used to monitor and compare the seasonal abundance of beneficial and pest insects in 12 fields located in the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Deep Sand regions of Georgia.
Some of this year's results support earlier data from last year. More ground dwelling beneficial insects were caught in pitfall traps in conservation than in conventional tilled cotton fields. Crimson Clover was the cover crop that harbored the highest populations of plant dwelling beneficial insects. Also pest insects were more abundant in this cover crop but this observation did not lead to more pest problems during the cotton season. It appears that there is no difference in abundance of plant dwelling beneficial insects between conservation and conventional tilled fields later in the season. The egg predation experiments revealed slightly higher predation rates in conservation fields. Parasitization rates of Heliothis eggs and captured larvae from conservation fields were also higher.