Developing an Action Threshold for Thrips in the Texas High Plains

Western flower thrips infesting seedling cotton were treated automatically at: 1 week, 1 and 2 weeks, 1, 2 and 3 weeks, 2 and 3 weeks and based on two accepted action thresholds.  This test was conducted at one site in 2007, and 6 sites in 2008.  Based on the 2007 data, controlling thrips during the first week following plant emergence appears to be critical even at low thrips densities.  Thus, current Texas AgriLife Extension Service recommended thresholds for thrips in cotton may be too high under some conditions.  The 2008 data had not been fully summarized due to lack of yield when this abstract was written.