Monitoring cotton infesting aphid species in the southern U.S.

 
Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV) is the first virus reported to cause yield loss in cotton in the southeastern U.S. CLRDV is currently distributed from NC to TX, and incidence in cotton is reported to be highly variable across this area. The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, annually infests cotton and is the only known vector for CLRDV in the U.S. The vector status of the other seven aphid species reported to occasionally infest cotton in the U.S. is unknown. Information about the abundance and distribution of cotton infesting aphid species is needed to better understand factors contributing to regional variation in CLRDV incidence. The objective of this study is to examine the variation in seasonal abundance and distribution of aphid species reported to feed on cotton in areas of the cotton belt where CLRDV has been found. Aphid communities were monitored weekly using pan traps in VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, MS, TN, FL, and TX in 2020. Preliminary results show variation in aphid abundance and species distribution. Variation in seasonal trends and abundance of these species will be discussed along with their potential implications for CLRDV spread.