Failure to calibrate correctly could result in excess insecticide being applied, resulting in unnecessary cost, or conversely, too little insecticide being applied, resulting in inadequate control. The most severe damage appears when immature wingless thrips are present in seedlings. The presence of immatures suggests the insecticide is not present at a sufficient concentration in the plant to provide control. Environmental factors such as drought or excessive moisture can influence efficacy of preventive treatments. All fields should be scouted for thrips from emergence until the five leaf stage.
Damage is unlikely if seedlings are growing vigorously and have reached the five leaf stage.
Foliar treatments are recommended if thrips number 2 to 3 per plant,, especially if immature thrips are observed. Silverleaf whitefly was a serious problem of cotton in parts of the state last season. The most intense populations occurred in the southern part of Tift County and surrounding areas. We have received a few calls concerning the presence of whiteflies in landscapes during recent weeks. Callers are asking if the silverleaf whitefly that was so abundant last fall in south Georgia has come out early this year.