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855. f and Llicoln, C. 1978. Sur\;ey, detection, and economic thresholds. 

 In Boll Weevil: Management Strategies. South. Coop. Ser. Bull. 228, 

 pp. 4-14. 

 Ihe two basic prerequisites in developing effective pest management systems arc 

 1) fairly good sampling and 2) confidence in the use of sound econoiaic levels of 

 pest populations or damage. Thus, economic thresholds are considered in this 

 paper along with survey and detection, since these subjects are essentially 

 interdependent in pest management programs. Sampling populations in management 

 programs would be unnecessary un3ess there were some level at which managem.t.L 

 decisions could be made. Other objectives of sampling for boll weevil are for 

 eradication programs or for research purposes. Sampling in eradication programs 

 Is designed to detect low density populations and survey the geographical area 

 Inhabited by live individuals. Sampling for research purposes poses another 

 ! series of constraints on the technique used. In field research the main objec- 

 tive is to determine the effects of various environmental factors on boll weevil 

 abundance and dynamics. 



I 856. , and McDanlel, S. 1978. Is the fire ant a friend or a foe? Fanner 

 Stockman 91 (Nov.): 6-7. 

 Ihe red imported fire ant is generally regarded to be a very serious Insect pest 

 In the southeastern United States. Hay mowers striking the ant mounds may be 

 damaged and the insect can be a nuisance in yards, playgrounds and other areas 

 where poeple congregate. However, evidence is accumulating that indicates the 

 ant is not all bad. Recent research suggests that we should take a new look 

 at the red imported fire ant ( Solenopsis invlcta Burne) and evaluate possible 

 benefits of this insect. For example, fire ants were observed to kill 66 percent 

 of the young boll weevils in an east Texas cotton field during 1977. As n renult, 

 no yield losses due to weevil damage were observed in this dryland field. The 

 field yielded slightly over one bale per acre with no insecticides used for boll 

 weevil control. 



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