Discover effective strategies to manage thrips in cotton crops. Learn about their impact, identification, and integrated pest management techniques to protect your cotton fields from these damaging pests.
What are Thrips?
Thrips can be a significant problem for cotton crops, causing damage that impacts yield and fiber quality. The most common thrips species found on cotton, causing feeding damage throughout the season. Focus on the undersides of leaves, young shoots, and terminals. Look for feeding damage like silvery streaks on leaves, distorted buds and flowers, and presence of honeydew (sticky substance). Thrips are very small, typically only about 1-2 mm long. They are difficult to see with the naked eye, but you may be able to spot them if you look closely. Thrips feeding can deprive the plant of essential nutrients, It will not grow as large as it should. The damage caused by thrips feeding can cause leaves to curl or become discolored, and flowers to become misshapen. Some species of thrips can transmit viruses and other diseases to plants.
Identification Of Thrips In Cotton Crops
- Size and Shape: Thrips are tiny insects, typically less than 1mm long, with slender bodies and fringed wings.
- Color: Look for individuals that are yellow, brown, or black, particularly on the undersides of leaves, young shoots, and terminals.
- Movement: Thrips tend to move quickly when disturbed, so gently tap a leaf over a piece of white paper to observe for movement.
- Feeding Damage: Look for silvery streaks on leaves, distorted buds and flowers, and the presence of honeydew (sticky substance).
Classification Of Thrips:
|
Type |
Pest |
|
Common Name |
Thrips |
|
Scientific Name |
Thrips tabaci |
|
Major parts affected in plants |
Leaves, Shoot, Bolls |
|
Major affected states |
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh |
Favorable factors for Thrips in cotton:
- Warm temperatures: Thrips generally thrive in warm weather, with optimal temperatures ranging from 20-30°C (68-86°F). Cooler temperatures slow down their development and reproduction.
- Dry conditions: While cotton plants need moderate moisture, prolonged dry periods can stress the plants, making them more susceptible to thrips infestation.
- Low wind: Still or calm air allows aphid populations to build up more easily, as they are less likely to be dispersed by wind.
Symptoms of damage of Thrips in cotton:
- Stunted growth: Thrips extract vital plant sap, hindering cotton plant growth and development. This manifests as smaller plants with shorter internodes and reduced leaf size.
- Yellowing leaves: As thrips drain sap, leaves lose chlorophyll, turning yellow and appearing malnourished, compromising photosynthesis and overall plant health.
- Leaf distortion and curling: Thrips feeding creates irregular edges, puckering, and upward or downward curling of leaves, often starting at the margins and progressing inwards.
Control measures for Thrips in Cotton Crop:
Cultural control methods of Thrips in cotton:
- Planting of cotton near onion fields should be avoided.
- Avoid late sowing of cotton crops.
- Use nitrogen fertilizers judiciously.
Biological control methods of Thrips in Cotton:
- Treat seeds with Katyayani Beauveria bassiana bioinsecticide.
Chemical control measures of Thrips in cotton:
|
Products |
Technical Names |
Dosages |
|
Diafenthiuron 40.1% + Acetamiprid 3.9% WP |
200-250 grams per acre |
|
|
Imidacloprid 70 % WG |
2-3 gms per 15 lt water |
|
|
750 ml - 1 liter/acre |
||
|
Chloropyriphos 50 % + cypermethrin 5 % EC |
300 ml per acre |
FAQS Related Thrips In Cotton:
Q. What pesticide is used to control thrips in cotton?
A. The pesticides used to control thrips in cotton are Katyayani Ashwamedh Plus and Katyayani IMD-70.
Q. What are the symptoms of thrips in cotton?
A. The symptoms of thrips in cotton are leaf wrinkling and curling upwards, damaged leaves with shiny patches and silver and brown necrotic spots.
Q. How to get rid of thrips in cotton?
A. Thrips in cotton can be easily controlled by cultural, biological and chemical control measures.
