erstood (and perhaps under-estimated), the monitoring of cotton fields for this ‘new’ late-season pest of Bollgard cotton is strongly encouraged.
Note: June budworm damage to squares is often associated with a tiny penetration hole, webbing, and/or some adjacent feeding on tender leaves. However, budworms can also make a single penetration hole which becomes nearly invisible as the square dries up. These blacked squares can be difficult to differentiate from plant bug injury. Fortunately, budworm damage to squares in the 10 percent range or higher is almost always associated with the more obvious symptoms mentioned above. At least into the foreseeable future, do not expect this budworm damage on Bollgard cotton in North Carolina.