Cotton thrips

Polyphagous and very widely distributed. Occurs at all stages of crop growth starting from seedling stage. Also attack soybean, tobacco and some flower crops.

Appearance:

Very small, slender, yellowish to brownish insects, adults of which have fringed wings.

        Adults

Life cycle:

The eggs are inserted into young leaves. It lays 60-100 eggs. Adults live for 8-25 days. Life cycle is completed in three weeks.                                                        

          LifeCycle                                                                         

Nature of damage:

• Both nymphs and adults lacerate the underside of leaf tissues and imbibe the oozing sap.
• These lacerate the epidermal cells and suck the sap.

Damage symptoms:

• Leaves with white specks initially which later coalesce and result in silvery shining on the surface along the veins of leaf and leaf curl up.
• Silvery undersurface of leaves
• Leaves loose the natural luster
• Leaf loses its succulence and at the lower surface, bronzing is seen.
• Leaves appear sickly and may show uneven surface.

                                      Damaged plants

 Factors Responsible for incidence:

 Dry weather favors the multiplication of thrips.