Biology, Crop Injury, and Management of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Infesting Cotton Seedlings in the United States

Abstract

Several species of thrips are known to infest cotton seedlings in the United States and constitute one of the most common insect pest challenges for growers. The species complex, species abundance, extent of crop injury, and impact on lint yield varies widely across the cotton states. Cotton seedlings are most susceptible to thrips injury during the first 4 to 5 weeks after plant emergence. Feeding by thrips results in distortion, malformation and tearing of seedling leaves, reduced leaf area and plant height, reduced root growth, and injury to or death of the apical meristem, the latter of which leads to excessive vegetative branching. Plant maturity (i.e., fruit production) can be delayed and in extreme cases, losses of as much a 30 -50% of lint yield potential have been reported. To date, no varieties of cotton have resistance to thrips, so controls are based solely on insecticide applications. Treatment thresholds and control practices (e.g., insecticide seed treatments, in-furrow or foliar applied insecticides) vary widely across cotton states. This article provides a brief summary of the various species of thrips present in U.S. cotton, their plant host range and injury to cotton, a general description of thrips biology, and management practices currently available to growers.

Effect of Temperature on Growth and Development of Thrips tabaci Lindeman in BT Cotton

“…This pest has the potential to cause yield reduction of about 30 to 50 per cent (Cook et al, 2011). Thrips are deleterious during high temperature and scanty rainfall (Vennila et al, 2007).…”

Conservation tillage and thiamethoxam seed treatments as tools to reduce thrips densities and disease in cotton and peanut

“…Seedling cotton and peanut are rapidly infested by thrips as they disperse from senescing winter hosts in the spring and can reach economically damaging levels if left untreated (Gaines, 1934;Northfield et al, 2008;Cook et al, 2011). Adult and immature thrips damage cotton by rupturing cells and sucking out the fluids, and symptoms of thrips injury include silvering, malformation of leaves, and damage to terminal buds.…”

“…Adult and immature thrips damage cotton by rupturing cells and sucking out the fluids, and symptoms of thrips injury include silvering, malformation of leaves, and damage to terminal buds. In cotton, thrips feeding damage can result in loss of apical dominance, excessive vegetative branching (Gaines, 1934) and delayed maturity (Cook et al, 2011). The primary thrips found in cotton in the southeast is the tobacco thrips Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), though lower numbers of eastern flower thrips Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) and western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) also occur in cotton (Cook et al, 2003).…”

Invasion ecology of thrips in relation to seedling cotton

“…Adult and larval thrips that infest cotton seedlings feed on the contents of plant epidermal cells and damaged plant tissue often appears silvery (Figure 1.4) (Cook et al, 2011). The resulting damage also leads to the deformation of plant parts, causing leaves to twist and become distorted (Figure 1.4) (Cook et al, 2011).…”

“…Adult and larval thrips that infest cotton seedlings feed on the contents of plant epidermal cells and damaged plant tissue often appears silvery (Figure 1.4) (Cook et al, 2011). The resulting damage also leads to the deformation of plant parts, causing leaves to twist and become distorted (Figure 1.4) (Cook et al, 2011). Thrips damage to cotton seedlings may also result in the reduced plant height and leaf area and delay the production of fruiting bodies (Hawkins et al, 1966;Forrester & Wilson, 1988;Williams et al, 2011).…”