THRIPS IN COTTON

Thrips: Thrips tabaci

• Usually found on leaves
• Characteristics found in adults
  • small slender
  • yellowish – brown with fringed wings

Effects:

Thrips lacerate the tissues on the undersurface of leaves and suck the sap. As a result, they cause the shriveling of leaves which then become crumbled or wrinkled.

When infestation is severe, silvery patches are seen on the lower surface in the early stages of attack, causing broken edges.

Management:

1. Cultural management: Avoid planting cotton during cool conditions so that young plants will not be affected when plants are most susceptible to thrips damage.
2. Biological control: Many small predators such as minute pirate bugs, and spiders feed on thrips.
3. Scouting: Farmers should begin inspections once the cotton reaches approximately 50 percent stand emergence.
4. Chemical control: Consider using foliar insecticides or seed treatments in areas with a history of frequent heavy thrips infestations.

For further study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318116444