The following chart summarizes these results. Early Season Thrips . They vary in color from yellowish to dark brown. Adults move into cotton fields from surrounding vegetation. Immature or larval thrips resemble the adults but lack wings.
Damage occurs as thrips feed on young, unfurled leaves of seedling cotton.
This causes the expanding leaf to become crinkled and distorted. Injury often results in stunted seedlings which may complicate post directed herbicide applications. Thrips injury may also cause reduced yields, delays in maturity, and in severe cases, stand loss. Seedlings are most vulnerable to thrips attack from emergence to about the 5-leaf stage. If seedlings are not growing vigorously, the time or susceptible window to thrips injury is extended.