Use of Combined Economic Threshold Level to Control Insect Pests

Abstract

The economic threshold level (ETL) is a key factor to be studied for insect pests control. It is difficult to monitor cotton insect pests separately, and it is not reasonable to base decision-making for spraying on an ETL of individual insects and ignore sub-levels of other cotton insect pests. So, we want to use a combined ETL in a way of insect units, to put all major insect pests to consideration as an insect pests‘ complex. This means delaying the first spray to give a chance for natural enemies to develop and then lower the number of sprays and consequently reduce the cost of production.