September 2026 issue

Volume 59, Issue 9

Spider mites may be considered a secondary cotton pest, but growing evidence shows they are often a warning sign of deeper problems within the production system. Our cover story this month explores how drought stress, pesticide use, disrupted natural enemies, and management decisions can fuel damaging mite outbreaks, and why successful control depends on addressing the underlying causes, not just applying another spray.

On the cover: The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Photo by Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit and courtesy of USDA-ARS.