Thrips injury inhibits seedling growth and complicates early season weed control. Foliar sprays may be needed if no preventive treatment is used or if unusually heavy thrips infestations occur. Banding Insecticide Applications For band applications with high clearance or conventional sprayers, a minimum band width of 20 inches should be used. If applications are made in conjunction with a precision cultivation operation, a nozzle set to cover a band width of 6-8 inches wider than the row canopy at average plant height should be acceptable. Check plants for adequate coverage, especially if wind is blowing during application.
Wind has a more adverse affect on band applications than broadcast applications.
This applies to early season applications for thrips and aphids, as well as early bollworms and plant bugs. Although these two species appear very similar in the larval stage, they are different insects. These time periods vary from year to year and locality within the state. Generally, two generations of corn earworm infest cotton. Corn earworm commonly infest ear stage corn, and when corn begins to dry down, migration to cotton occurs.