Often these wind currents carry large numbers of thrips into fields of emerging cotton. This is one reason that thrips pressure is often higher during dry periods. Some species of thrips are predacious, but these are seldom seen in cotton. Others such as the western flower thrips, which also feed on spider mites, are both predators and plant feeders. Because of their small size, thrips are able to hide in the folds and crevices of developing terminals and feed on the young tissue.
Cotton is most susceptible to injury by thrips from emergence through the three to four leaf stage.
It is very uncommon for cotton that is beyond the 5 leaf stage to be injured by thrips, although older cotton can exhibit symptoms of injury that was caused during the early seedling stages. Cotton that is growing slowly due to stress from dry conditions, cool temperatures, or other factors is more susceptible to thrips damage that vigorously growing cotton. Low populations of thrips may cause some visible cosmetic injury to leaves, but it will seldom have economic impact. In most cases these provide adequate control. However there are certain conditions that can cause unsatisfactory control.