Snap shot on main Cotton pests and control method in Iran

Cotton is one of the most important crops in the world, providing fiber for clothing, oil for cooking, and feed for livestock in iran . However, cotton is also vulnerable to many pests that can reduce its yield and quality. Some of the most common and destructive cotton pests in iran are:

• Cotton bollworm: This is a caterpillar that feeds on the buds and bolls of cotton, causing them to drop or produce less lint. The adult moth is yellowish-brown with a dark spot on each forewing. The eggs are white and laid on the plant surface. The larvae are greenish with dark stripes and can grow up to 4 cm long.
• Cotton boll weevil: This is a beetle that punctures the buds and bolls of cotton to lay eggs inside. The larvae then feed on the developing seeds and lint, causing them to rot or fall off. The adult weevil is grayish-brown with a long snout and can measure up to 6 mm long. The eggs are white and oval-shaped. The larvae are white and legless and can reach up to 7 mm long.
• Cotton aphid: This is a small insect that sucks the sap from the leaves and stems of cotton, causing them to curl, yellow, or wilt. The aphid also excretes honeydew, which attracts sooty mold and ants. The adult aphid is green, yellow, or black with a pear-shaped body and can be up to 2 mm long. The eggs are black and laid on the plant surface. The nymphs are similar to the adults but smaller and wingless.

To control these pests, farmers in iran use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach that combines different methods, such as:

• Cultural practices: These include crop rotation, intercropping, trap crops, resistant varieties, timely planting, proper spacing, weed control, irrigation management, and sanitation. These practices can reduce the pest population, enhance the natural enemies, and improve the plant health.
• Biological control: This involves using natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, pathogens, or competitors to suppress the pest population. For example, ladybugs, lacewings, spiders, wasps, fungi, bacteria, or viruses can be introduced or conserved in the field to attack the pests.
• Mechanical control: This involves using physical methods such as hand picking, trapping, netting, or vacuuming to remove or exclude the pests from the field. For example, pheromone traps can be used to lure and capture the adult moths or weevils.
• Chemical control: This involves using pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides to kill or repel the pests from the field. However, chemical control should be used as a last resort and only when the pest population exceeds the economic threshold level. Chemical control should also be based on regular monitoring, accurate identification, proper timing, correct dosage, and safe application of the pesticides.

By using these methods in combination, farmers in iran can effectively control cotton pests while minimizing the negative impact on the environment and human health.