Cultural controls for the management of Lygus populations in cotton

We have attempted to review the potential and limitations of cultural appro aches for control of Lygus populations in cotton, including management of a lternate hosts and use of host plant resistance. Other than insecticides, c ultural approaches seem the most likely of the currently available insect-m anagement tactics to help in the management of Lygus populations. The use o f transgenic or nectariless cotton cultivars that are resistant to Lygus co uld be easily implemented if they were available. Other kinds of cultural c ontrols, such as management of alternate hosts, may not be adopted on a lar ge scale unless they are part of an area-wide management program or until a dditional evidence of cost efficiency is demonstrated Adoption of cultural approaches will be largely influenced by the availability and efficacy of a lternative management practices, including insecticides, and other socioeco nomic factors. Cultural approaches are best suited in "soft" systems, with low use of disruptive insecticides, where natural enemies are relied upon m ost heavily to maintain cotton pests below economically damaging levels.