This project has provided valuable information on both the management of key pest species and management of flooded cotton for the cotton industry during the period 2010-2012. Specifically, the information was provided to address important issues as they arose, supplementing information contained in the Cotton Pest Management Guide and the Australian Cotton Production Manual.

Aphid abundance increased during the 2011/12 season due to host prevalence following above average rainfalls across cotton growing areas. this caused a grat deal of concern throughout the industry as Cotton Bunchy Top virus had been widespread during the 2010/11 season and as aphids are the vector for this disease, the probability of a major CBT outbreak was high. Three Cotton Tales addressing aphid management and CBT disease were prepared by this project providing industry with detailed management information.

Apple Dimpling Bugs were problematic early in 2011/12 season. Also known as yellow mirids, growers were unclear as to whether these insects were likely to require control. Apple Dimpling bugs have the potential to damage seedling cotton, however, they are also useful predators of Helicoverpa eggs and mites. In low numbers, they are unlikely to cause a yield reduction but may cause pin squares to be shed and as numbers increase could affect yields particularily in short season areas. A Cotton Tale was produced by Julie Wise in conjuction with this project to provide management guidance.

Broadmites, typically a rare pest of cotton and more normally found in tropical/subtropical areas, were observed in high numbers during the 2011/12 season. This was primarily thought to be due to the high humidity experienced throughout much of the season, as well as the very high rainfall experienced. Broadmites are difficult to control in cotton as there are no acaricides currently registered for their control. However, incidental control of Broadmites has been observed when growers applied abamectin for control of two spotted mite. Additionally, petroleum spray oils provide additional control of a range of mites and insect pests.

Significant flooding occurred throughout many cotton growing valleys late in the 2011/12 season. this presented enormous challenges to the industry, particularily as cotton was at such a late developmental stage and thus management options were limited. this project led to the development of a four page management brochure in conjunction with leading industry scientists, Mike Bange, Lewis Wilson, Ian Rochester, Paul Grundy, Steve Yeates and Graham Charles, reviewing physiological responses, nutrition, pest and weeds issues that may need to be addressed following such an event.

Silverleaf Whitefly also becam problematic late season 2011/12. The build up of SLW at this time in the season was atypical and primarily resulted in the movement of adults into late maturing crops following control of alternate hosts(weeds) in fallow fields when rainfall events began to diminish. Guidelines for SLW control published in the Cotton Pest Management Guide primarily use the threshold matrix to predict expected population increase resulting from resident populations. Because SLW numbers in this case were primarily coming from non-resident populations, the same set of assumptions hence control recommendations were no longer applicable. A Cotton Tale and subsequent article published in the Australian Cotton Grower Magazine were developed with key scientists Lewis Wilson, Richard Sequeira and Paul Grundy to address this challenging problem.