Cotton is a major crop that is prone to a wide range of pests, diseases, and weeds. These factors can reduce both the yield and quality of cotton production significantly. At POMAIS Agriculture, we offer comprehensive solutions for managing these threats, including effective pesticide products tailored to cotton farming needs. Additionally, we provide customized pesticide formulations by combining multiple active ingredients to address specific pest and disease pressures, ensuring your cotton crops are well-protected.

Product (Common Name) Selectivity Persistence to: Major Target Pests
Pest Natural Enemies
bifenazate high short short mites
imidacloprid high moderate short aphids, lygus bug
esfenvalerate low long moderate loopers, beet armyworm, other caterpillars
acetamiprid high moderate to long short whiteflies, aphids
abamectin high long moderate mites(resistance in some twospotted and Pacific spider mite populations)
Bacillus thuringiensis high short short loopers, beet armyworm
beta–cyfluthrin low long moderate lygus bug, beet armyworm, looper
clothianidin low moderate long lygus bug, aphids
bifenthrin low long long lygus bug(resistance in some lygus bug populations), whiteflies, beet armyworm, looper
flonicamid high moderate short lygus bug, aphids
proparite high moderate short mites(resistance in some twospotted and Pacific spider mite populations)
thiamethoxam high moderate short whiteflies, aphids
chlorantraniliprole high unknown short primarily caterpillars
buprofezin high long long whiteflies
thiamethoxam seed treatment high moderate to long short thrips, mites, lygus bug
fenpropathrin low long moderate whiteflies, lygus bug(resistance in some lygus bug populations)
novaluron moderate moderate moderate lygus bug, beet armyworm, loopers
dimethoate moderate short short lygus bug(resistance in some lygus bug populations), aphids, thrips
diflubenzuron high moderate short beet armyworm, other caterpillars
fenpyroximate high moderate short mites
pymetrozine high short short aphids
imidacloprid seed treatment moderate long moderate aphids, thrips
Gossyplure high moderate none pink bollworm
methoxyfenozide high moderate moderate beet armyworm, other caterpillars
pyriproxyfen high long short whiteflies
methomyl low short short loopers, beet armyworm, aphids
imidacloprid+beta-cyfluthrin low long moderate lygus bug, aphids
malathion low short short grasshoppers
zeta-cypermethrin low long moderate lygus bug, beet armyworm, loopers
azadirachtin moderate short short aphids, whiteflies
spiromesifen high moderate moderate mites, whiteflies
Oils low short short aphids, whiteflies
hexythiazox high moderate short mites
acephate foliar treatment low moderate moderate thrips, lygus bug, loopers, whiteflies
acephate seed treatment high moderate short thrips, aphids
spinetoram high moderate short thrips
Sivanto high moderate short aphids, whiteflies
Soaps low short short aphids, whiteflies
indoxacarb moderate moderate moderate beet armyworm, loopers, lygus bug(suppression)
spinosad high moderate short beet armyworm, other caterpillars
sulfur high short short mites
aldicarb: at plant high long moderate mites, aphids, thrips
aldicarb: sidedress high long short lygus bug, aphids, mites
phorate: at plant high moderate moderate mites, aphids, thrips
dinotefuran moderate to high moderate short whiteflies, aphids, plant bugs
oxamyl low moderate moderate whiteflies, lygus bug
lambda-cyhalothrin low long moderate lygus bug, beet armyworm, looper
etoxazole high moderate — mites

Common Cotton Diseases

1. Cotton Leaf Spot (Cercospora leaf spot)

Impact:
Cotton leaf spot, caused by Cercospora, results in lesions on cotton leaves, affecting photosynthesis and weakening the plant. This can lead to defoliation and reduced yield potential.

Symptoms:

  • Small, circular lesions with a dark brown center and yellow halo on leaves.
  • Yellowing around the edges of the spots as the disease progresses.
  • Premature leaf drop leading to poor growth and reduced yield.

Control Methods:

  • Critical Control Period: From early vegetative stages to flowering.
  • Recommended Pesticides: Fungicides like Mancozeb, Copper-based fungicides, and Azoxystrobin are effective against cotton leaf spot.

2. Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum)

Impact:
Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungal disease that affects the vascular system of the cotton plant, leading to wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth. It can significantly reduce cotton plant vigor and yield.

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing of lower leaves followed by wilting.
  • Vascular tissue in the stems turns brown or dark.
  • Premature defoliation and death of plants in severe cases.

Control Methods:

  • Critical Control Period: Prevention at planting is key.
  • Recommended Pesticides: Fungicides such as Thiram and Prothioconazole can be used for control, although resistance management and crop rotation are also important.
Mancozeb
Mancozeb

Mancozeb

Metalaxyl-M 124 gL + Azoxystrobin 322 gL SE
Prothioconazole 480 gL SC

More disease treatments

Symptoms
Leaves yellow and wilt, especially on hot days. Lower leaves die first, stems turn brown inside, and plants may become stunted or die young. Infected seedlings can look like damping-off. Sometimes root galls appear when root-knot nematodes are also present.

Cause
A soil and seed-borne fungus that survives for years in soil or on roots. Race 4 is the most dangerous type—it can kill cotton even without nematodes.

Management

  • Use resistant varieties (e.g., NemX, Phytogen 800, DP-360).

  • Control root-knot nematodes with nematicides or resistant cotton.

  • Avoid spreading soil from infected fields; clean machinery and tools.

  • Use disease-free seed and avoid planting cotton in infested fields.

  • Crop rotation helps slow spread but does not remove the fungus.

(Black root rot – Thielaviopsis basicola; Damping-off – Pythium spp.; Soreshin – Rhizoctonia solani; Fusarium wilt – Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum)

Symptoms
These diseases attack young seedlings, causing root rot, stem lesions, or plant death.

  • Pythium: soft, water-soaked roots that turn brown and collapse.

  • Rhizoctonia (Soreshin): reddish-brown sunken spots on stems.

  • Thielaviopsis (Black root rot): dark, blackened taproot; plants may stay small.

  • Fusarium: wilting, yellowing, and death of young seedlings.

When it Happens
Common in cool, wet soil that slows germination. The fungi live naturally in soil and attack slow-growing seedlings.

Management

  • Plant in warm, well-drained soil for quick emergence.

  • Use treated, high-germination seed with fungicides effective against Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Thielaviopsis.

  • Avoid planting too deep or in wet soil.

  • Rotate with sorghum or small grains to lower disease risk.

  • Clean equipment and avoid compaction that stresses roots.

Recommended Seed Treatments

  • For Pythium: Metalaxyl (Apron XL)

  • For Rhizoctonia: Triadimenol (Baytan 30) or Myclobutanil (Nu-Flow M)

  • For Thielaviopsis: same fungicides at higher rates

Symptoms
Leaves wilt and turn yellow between veins before drying out. Stems and branches show brown streaks inside. Severe infections cause defoliation, stunted growth, and even plant death. Symptoms usually appear after flowering, while early wilting often indicates Fusarium infection instead.

About the Disease
The fungus lives in soil as microsclerotia—tiny, long-lasting survival bodies that infect roots. Cool temperatures favor disease development. Once established, it can survive for many years in soil.

Management

  • Plant tolerant varieties, especially resistant Acala or Pima types.

  • Rotate with non-host crops such as corn, wheat, barley, sorghum, or rice.

  • Avoid continuous cotton planting; if soil has high inoculum levels, rotate out for several years.

  • Delay early irrigation in cool conditions to reduce infection risk.

  • In heavily infested areas, soil solarization (covering moist soil with clear plastic for 5–6 weeks) can help reduce pathogen density.

Monitoring
Collect soil or stem samples after harvest to check disease level. If lab results show 10 or more microsclerotia per gram of soil, yield losses are likely—rotation or variety change is recommended.

Cotton Bollworm
Chlorantraniliprole
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Spinosad 120gL SC
Imidacloprid
Thiamethoxam25%SC

Common Cotton Pests

1. Cotton Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

Impact:
The cotton bollworm is a major pest that feeds on the flowers, buds, and bolls of the cotton plant. Feeding by larvae damages the cotton fibers, reducing the quality of the harvested cotton and leading to significant yield loss.

Symptoms:

  • Holes and damaged areas on cotton bolls.
  • Presence of larvae inside the bolls, leading to rotting.
  • Decreased fiber quality and premature boll drop.

Control Methods:

  • Critical Control Period: During flowering and boll formation.
  • Recommended Pesticides: Insecticides such as Chlorantraniliprole, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, and Spinosad are effective for controlling bollworm infestations.

2. Cotton Aphid (Aphis gossypii)

Impact:
Cotton aphids are sap-feeding insects that weaken the cotton plant by sucking out nutrients. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to the growth of sooty mold. Aphids are also vectors for several plant viruses.

Symptoms:

  • Yellowing of leaves and stunted growth.
  • Presence of sticky honeydew on leaves and stems.
  • Wilting and leaf distortion due to aphid feeding.

Control Methods:

  • Critical Control Period: From seedling to boll development.
  • Recommended Pesticides: Systemic insecticides like Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, and Pyrethroids are effective for controlling aphids.

More Pest Control

(Alfalfa looper – Autographa californica; Cabbage looper – Trichoplusia ni)

Description
Alfalfa and cabbage loopers are small green caterpillars that move in a looping way. They grow up to about 1–1.5 inches long. Alfalfa loopers usually appear in May and June, while cabbage loopers are seen later in the summer.

Damage
These insects feed on cotton leaves, causing a ragged look. Light feeding rarely affects yield. Only heavy leaf loss during early growth can reduce production, but this is uncommon.

Management
Looper numbers are usually low and kept in check by natural enemies. They often don’t need chemical control unless other insecticide sprays reduce beneficial insects. Bt cotton varieties help protect against loopers and other caterpillars.

Natural Control
Predators like bigeyed bugs and tiny wasps help control eggs and larvae. Viruses and other natural factors often stop outbreaks quickly.

Organic Options
Products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad can be used in organic cotton.

Insecticides
If control is needed, young larvae respond well to Bt, spinosad, methoxyfenozide, or similar products. Always rotate insecticides with different action types to prevent resistance.

Description
The beet armyworm is a small green caterpillar that grows up to about 1 inch long. It usually has light stripes running along its body and a small dark spot on each side near the front legs. The adult moth is gray-brown with a wingspan of a little over 1 inch. Eggs are laid in clusters covered by fine, fuzzy scales. Several generations may occur each year, especially in warm regions.

Damage
Beet armyworms feed on young cotton leaves, squares, and small bolls. Early infestations often begin on nearby weeds and move to cotton fields after weeds are removed. Young larvae skeletonize leaves and create thin webs, while older larvae chew holes in leaves and flowers. Heavy infestations can destroy buds and bolls, delay maturity, and reduce yield.

Management
Armyworms also attack many other crops such as alfalfa, beans, sugarbeets, and vegetables. Populations can build up quickly when natural enemies are reduced by pesticide use or when weather favors rapid development. It is important to watch weeds and surrounding crops early in the season and control larvae there before they move into cotton. Field-edge or spot treatments are often effective. Select insecticides that are gentle on beneficial insects whenever possible.

Biological Control
Many natural enemies help control beet armyworms. Predators include spiders, assassin bugs, lacewings, and bigeyed bugs. Several tiny wasps, such as Hyposoter exiguae and Trichogramma species, parasitize the eggs and larvae. Viral and bacterial diseases also help reduce outbreaks naturally.

Cultural Control
Modern Bt cotton varieties such as Bollgard II provide strong protection against beet armyworms and other caterpillars like bollworms and budworms.

Organic and Biological Options
Products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad (Entrust) are suitable for organic programs and safe for natural enemies.

Resistance and Chemical Use
Avoid using the same insecticide repeatedly. Rotate products with different modes of action to slow resistance. Use selective insecticides like Bt, methoxyfenozide, or spinosad first, and save broad-spectrum types (like pyrethroids or carbamates) for severe infestations late in the season. Always follow label directions and local regulations.

Description
Cotton aphids are small insects that can appear any time during the growing season. They vary in color from yellow to green or black, and can be winged or wingless.

Damage
Aphids suck sap from leaves, causing curling, stunted growth, and sticky honeydew that can lead to sooty mold.

  • Early season: Heavy infestations slow seedling growth.

  • Mid-season: High numbers reduce boll size and cause shedding.

  • Late season: Even small populations can contaminate open cotton with honeydew, creating “sticky cotton.”

Management
Aphids are usually controlled by natural enemies like lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Avoid overuse of nitrogen and broad-spectrum insecticides that kill beneficials. Early planting and balanced fertilization help reduce infestations.

Organic & Chemical Control
Use insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or azadirachtin for organic fields. When chemicals are needed, rotate products with different modes of action to slow resistance, and spray only when populations exceed economic levels.

Description
The cotton bollworm is a moth pest whose larvae feed on cotton fruiting parts. The caterpillars vary from green to reddish brown and have tiny body spines. Eggs are small, round, and laid singly on leaves or flower buds.

Damage
Larvae bore into cotton squares and bolls, leaving holes and waste (frass). Severe feeding can destroy young fruit, delay maturity, and reduce yield. Larger larvae cause the most damage and are harder to control with insecticides.

Management
Control focuses on eggs and small larvae, as older ones resist sprays. Natural enemies—predatory bugs, wasps, and lacewings—help keep numbers low. Outbreaks often follow heavy pesticide use that kills these beneficials.
Use Bt cotton varieties like Bollgard II to reduce bollworm pressure, and avoid excessive fertilizer or irrigation that promotes lush growth. Chemical control is needed only when larvae exceed threshold levels on green bolls.

Organic Options
Biological and cultural practices, plus Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products, are allowed in organic cotton.

Description
The cotton leaf perforator is found mainly in southern desert cotton areas. Early larvae tunnel between leaf layers, while later stages feed on the leaf surface, creating small holes or “windows.” Mature larvae are greenish with black and white spots and form tiny silk shelters on leaves.

Damage
Infested leaves appear thin and transparent, often reduced to veins. Heavy attacks can cause early leaf drop, premature boll opening, and loss of young fruit in the upper canopy.

Management
Outbreaks are often linked to excessive pesticide use that destroys beneficial insects. Avoid unnecessary sprays and manage other pests carefully to preserve natural control.
Early harvest, plowing after the season, and planting Bt cotton help lower pest pressure.

Organic Options
Cultural measures and spinosad (Entrust) sprays are suitable for organic cotton.

Monitoring
Use pheromone traps to detect adult moths early. Inspect field edges and stressed plants first. Treat only when about 25–50% of top leaves have larvae. Time sprays when most larvae reach the “horseshoe” stage for best control.

(Black cutworm – Agrotis ipsilon; Granulate cutworm – Feltia subterranea; Variegated cutworm – Peridroma saucia)

Description
Soil-dwelling night feeders. Smooth-skinned caterpillars, usually dull gray to dark brown and well camouflaged in soil.

  • Black cutworm: greasy gray-brown with faint stripes.

  • Granulate cutworm: dark gray, body dotted with tiny black granules; cuts plants below ground.

  • Variegated cutworm: dark gray with a pale side stripe and small yellow-orange spots on the back.

Damage
Clip seedlings at or just below the soil surface, often in patches or along short stretches of row. Same “hot spots” can recur each year.

Management (practical IPM)

  • Cultural: Remove green cover and let residues decompose 3–4 weeks before planting; maintain clean field borders.

  • Monitoring: Walk fields during seedling stage—check edges, low spots, and weedy areas for cut plants and hidden larvae.

  • Treatment: Spot-treat patches (ground rigs preferred) when fresh cutting is found. Choose selective products where possible and rotate IRAC modes of action.

Description
Small, dark beetles—about 3–6 mm long—often dusty or soil-covered. Larvae look similar to wireworms. Adults hide in soil during the day and feed at night.

Damage
Adults chew and cut young cotton seedlings at or just below the soil surface. Damage is usually limited to early growth and often occurs near field edges or next to grain and alfalfa fields.

Management
Inspect seedlings regularly, focusing on weedy or low-lying areas. Once plants reach 4–6 inches tall, injury usually stops. No specific baits or insecticides are registered, so prevention and field sanitation are the main controls.

Description
Small gray-brown insects about 3 mm long with narrow bodies. Nymphs show faint red markings. They hide under plants or soil clods during hot days and often move into cotton when nearby weeds or pastures dry out.

Damage
They feed on young seedlings. A few insects cause little harm, but large swarms can wilt or kill plants within hours, mainly along field edges.

Management
Control cruciferous weeds before planting to remove breeding sites. Fields near rangeland or pastures should be checked frequently during seedling growth.
If infestations appear, treat only field borders or the migration paths—full-field sprays are rarely needed.

Description
Dark brown to black insects about 1 inch long, with strong hind legs for jumping and loud chirping from males. They hide during the day and become active at night.

Damage
Crickets chew stems and leaves of young cotton seedlings, sometimes cutting plants at the base. Damage is usually minor and occurs only in certain years, mainly in desert regions.

Management
No insecticidal baits are registered for cotton. Keep field edges clean and reduce weeds or debris where crickets hide. Early detection and good field sanitation usually prevent problems.

Description
Grasshoppers lay eggs in grassy or weedy areas such as roadsides and pastures during late summer. Nymphs hatch in spring and begin feeding on nearby plants. When dry conditions reduce wild vegetation, they often move into irrigated cotton fields.

Damage
They chew on leaves and tender shoots, mostly along field borders near grasslands or roads. Damage is usually minor and seldom causes economic loss.

Management
Treat only field edges if needed—border sprays usually provide enough control. Baits are ineffective in cotton but can be used in rangeland or breeding sites before grasshoppers migrate. Maintaining weed-free borders helps reduce movement into fields.

(Potato leafhopper – Empoasca fabae; Southern garden leafhopper – Empoasca solana)

Description
Small, pale green, wedge-shaped insects about 3 mm long. They move quickly when disturbed, jumping or running sideways. The potato leafhopper is more common near potato fields, while the southern garden species appears near sugarbeet fields in desert areas.

Damage
Both adults and nymphs suck sap from the undersides of leaves, causing rough midribs, yellow or red blotches, and leaf curling. Severe infestations can stunt plants, reduce boll quality, and cause shedding of squares and young bolls.

Management
Natural enemies usually keep populations low. Problems occur only when large numbers migrate from nearby crops or weeds. Confirm symptoms are caused by leafhoppers before spraying—treat only if widespread leaf curling and discoloration appear.

Description
Small, flat-backed bugs (~6 mm) from pale green to yellow-brown with a clear triangle on the back. Nymphs are wingless, pale green, red-tipped antennae; larger nymphs often show five black dots. Easily confused with beneficial bigeyed bugs—confirm ID.

Damage
From first squaring to final set, lygus pierce squares and young bolls:

  • Squares <5 mm: shrivel and shed.

  • Larger squares/blooms: anther/style injury → poor fertilization.

  • Young bolls (<10 days): seed injury, yellow-stained lint.
    Heavy shed shifts the plant to vegetative growth (tall, spindly) and cuts yield.

Management (IPM summary)

  • Source management: Track lygus in alfalfa, safflower, tomatoes, potatoes, sugarbeet, and weedy hosts. Outbreaks often follow harvest/mowing or weed dry-down and broad-spectrum sprays.

  • Cultural: Use Bt cotton (helps with worm complexes); avoid rank growth; manage alfalfa to stagger cuttings and leave uncut border strips as habitat/trap, treating strips only if numbers spike. Clean up key weeds (Russian thistle, mustards, rocket, goosefoot) before adults form. Black-eyed beans can serve as trap borders.

  • Biological: Conserving predators/parasitoids reduces flare-ups; broad-spectrum insecticides can collapse beneficials and trigger secondary pests (aphids/mites).

  • Monitoring: Start at first square. Sweep-net sampling + fruit-retention checks. Typical action guides:

    • Early squaring: ~>1 per 50 sweeps.

    • Mid squaring: ~7–10 per 50 sweeps with ≥1 nymph, and retention slipping.

    • Late squaring: ~10 per 50 sweeps with nymphs.
      Protect early squares (June window) to secure yield. Stop once plants reach NAWF endpoints (Acala ≈5; Pima ≈3.5).

  • Chemicals (principles):

    • Low pressure / slight retention drop: favor selective options (e.g., flonicamid, novaluron, indoxacarb, oxamyl) to spare beneficials.

    • High pressure / sustained migration: consider residual actives (pyrethroid or mixes) but account for aphid/mite flare risk.

    • Resistance: minimize spray count and rotate IRAC MoA; consider effects of sprays aimed at other pests when planning rotations.

Organic options
Cultural measures (alfalfa strip management, weed timing) and conservation of natural enemies; avoid insecticides on weeds in organic systems.

(Omnivorous leafroller – Platynota stultana; False celery leaftier – Udea profundalis)

Description
Small caterpillars that tie leaves/bracts together with silk and feed from inside the shelter. When disturbed, larvae thrash or wiggle sharply.

Damage
Usually patchy and minor. Larvae feed on leaves, small squares, and the surface of green bolls; injured bolls may open early.

Management
Natural enemies typically hold populations down. Treat only if activity is widespread—Arizona suggests action when ~25% of plants host an active larva; no formal threshold in California. Prioritize spot treatments and conserve beneficials.

Description
A small grayish moth whose larvae are white at first, then develop pink bands as they mature. Eggs are laid beneath green boll calyxes. The pest is serious mainly in southern desert cotton areas.

Damage
Larvae bore into bolls and feed on seeds, cutting and staining the lint. Infested bolls may rot or open early, reducing yield and fiber quality. Even a few larvae can destroy entire bolls under humid conditions.

Management
Control focuses on reducing overwintering populations and preventing new infestations.

  • Cultural: Use Bt cotton or Bollgard II; terminate irrigation early to stop new bolls forming; shred and plow under cotton stalks after harvest; follow local plowdown and host-free period rules.

  • Regional measures: San Joaquin Valley uses a 90-day host-free period and sterile moth release program.

  • Chemical: Insecticides are only useful when larvae are exposed—larvae inside bolls are protected.

  • Organic: Rely on shredding, plowing, and spinosad (Entrust) if needed.

  • Monitoring: Sample bolls or use pheromone traps; mating disruption with gossyplure can suppress populations if combined with clean field practices.

Description
Hairy caterpillars, gray when young and later turning yellow, brown, or nearly black with long reddish or black hairs. Fully grown larvae reach about 2 inches long.

Damage
Feed on leaves—young larvae skeletonize, older ones chew large holes. Heavy infestations can defoliate plants, but serious loss is rare since outbreaks usually come late after bolls mature.

Management
Rarely needs control. Bt cotton prevents most injury. Late-season defoliation is often harmless or even helpful by opening the canopy and lowering boll rot risk.
For organic production, Bacillus thuringiensis and spinosad (Entrust) sprays are allowed. Treat only if leaf loss threatens before boll maturity.

Description
Small gray fly; larvae are white, slender maggots found inside seeds or nearby soil.

Damage
Larvae feed inside seeds or seedlings, causing poor emergence and patchy stands. Problems are worse in cool, wet spring soils rich in organic matter—especially sandy fields.

Management
Preventive control only. Destroy crop residues a month before planting and wait until soil is warm and dry enough before sowing. Rotations following corn with leftover debris increase risk; no treatments are effective after damage appears.

Description
Shield-shaped insects about 0.5 inch long, green to brown in color. Nymphs are rounder and darker. Eggs are barrel-shaped and laid in clusters on leaves.

Damage
Feed by piercing squares and bolls. Young bolls may drop; older ones show stained lint, shriveled seeds, and may rot due to infection. Heavy feeding can stop boll opening.

Management
Usually minor pests—watch field edges near alfalfa, sorghum, or weedy hosts. Check bolls for brown fecal spots under bracts; treat only if more than 20–25 adults are found on several plants before early September. Late infestations rarely justify spraying.

ID (quick check)

  • Tiny yellow body, white wings held roof-like with a small gap between them (vs. greenhouse whitefly wings lie flat, no gap).

  • Nymph “pupae” oval yellow with red eyes; smooth edge (few/no waxy filaments).

  • Mostly on leaf undersides; adults fly when disturbed.

Damage

  • Sap removal → stunting, leaf drop, boll shed, yield loss.

  • Heavy honeydew → sooty mold, “sticky cotton” (ginning/spinning problems).

  • Can vector Cotton leaf crumple virus (desert valleys).

Monitoring (simple rules)

  • Scout margins twice weekly when nearby hosts decline.

  • Adults: flip leaves; if ≥3 adults/leaf, count that leaf as infested.

  • Nymphs: within a quarter-size circle between main veins; if any large nymphs (3rd–4th), mark infested.

  • Treat when ≥40% leaves are infested with adults or large nymphs.

  • If adults high only at edges (few nymphs), consider edge treatments with non-IGR.

Management (IPM first)

  • Cultural: Plant upwind from melons/cole/tomato; sanitize crop residues & weeds; tighten alfalfa harvest interval; consider earlier crop termination/defoliation; prefer smooth-leaf upland varieties over hairy/Pima.

  • Biological: Encarsia/Eretmocerus wasps; lacewings, bigeyed bugs, lady beetles—preserve them.

  • Chemical (rotate MoA):

    • Early–mid season (nymph focus): IGRs → buprofezin (16) or pyriproxyfen (7C) (full-field; once/season each; long residual). Spiromesifen (23) for immatures (up to 2–3 apps per label).

    • Mid–late season / migrating adults: Acetamiprid (4A), flupyradifurone (4D), afidopyropen (9D), dinotefuran (4A); treat margins if pressure is edge-loaded.

    • Late, bolls open & adults surging: Bifenthrin or fenpropathrin (3A) often tank-mixed with oxamyl (1A) or an OP for knockdown (mind bee safety & label limits).

  • Resistance: Don’t spray successive generations with the same MoA; pyrethroids early season worsen mites/aphids—avoid until lint exposed.

Organic options

  • Insecticidal soap, narrow-range oil, azadirachtin (contact; thorough coverage; repeat as needed).

  • Leverage cultural + natural enemy conservation.

Description
Tiny, slender insects less than 1.6 mm long. Western flower thrips are pale with clear wings and common all season. Bean thrips are darker with white-banded wings and red-spotted immatures, mostly near field edges.

Damage
Western flower thrips feed on young leaves and buds, causing slight curling, but plants recover fast. They also eat mites, helping control them. Bean thrips can turn leaves reddish and cause leaf drop along borders.

Management
No treatment is usually needed. Avoid spraying unless seedlings are badly damaged. Remove nearby weeds like bindweed or lettuce to prevent outbreaks. If necessary, spot-treat borders.

Chemicals (if required)

  • Spinetoram (Group 5): softer, effective.

  • Acephate (Group 1B): works but may cause mite flare-ups.

Description
Small green to reddish caterpillar covered with fine spines; adult moth about 2 cm long. Found mainly in desert cotton areas.

Damage
Larvae chew holes in squares and bolls, leaving wet frass and causing fruit drop. Older larvae are hardest to kill and most destructive.

Management
Focus control on eggs and young larvae. Natural enemies usually keep numbers low; outbreaks often follow heavy insecticide use. No need to spray after bolls start opening.
Use Bt cotton or Bacillus thuringiensis products for organic control.

Sampling
Start checking mid-July; inspect 100 plants per field. Treat only if 10–12 small larvae per 100 plants are found.

Recommended options

  • Bt (Group 11): safe for beneficials.

  • Chlorantraniliprole (Group 28): effective, selective.

  • Esfenvalerate (Group 3): last choice; harms natural enemies.

(Carmine, Pacific, Strawberry, Twospotted)

ID (quick): Tiny “moving dots” on undersides; fine webbing. Strawberry mite shows early, tight colonies on cotyledons; leaves pucker/red.

Damage: Leaf yellowing/reddening → drop → weak plants, boll shed; heavy spots can defoliate patches.

When it flares: Hot/dry, water stress, after broad-spectrum sprays (pyrethroids/OPs) that kill beneficials.

Monitor / treat: Scout from emergence to first open boll. Consider action if 30–50% leaves have mites; spot-treat field edges if only margins are hot.

Manage first:

  • Preserve natural enemies (thrips, bigeyed bugs, predatory mites).

  • Irrigate well; sprinklers can suppress mites. Pima < upland susceptibility.

  • Avoid early pyrethroids; they turbocharge mites.

Miticide notes (rotate MOA):

  • Early/low pressure: growth-regulators (e.g., etoxazole, hexythiazox, spiromesifen).

  • Translaminar for tight canopies/seedlines: abamectin.

  • Later season/air apps: zeal/oberon-class options; propargite only after young-leaf stage (avoid on cotyledons).

  • Organic: sulfur (best <95°F; strongest on strawberry mite), insecticidal soap, narrow-range oil.

Description
Dark caterpillar with a broad yellow stripe on each side and a black spot behind the head.

Damage
Early infestations can chew young cotton leaves; later ones feed on leaves and bolls near field edges. Severe outbreaks are rare.

Management
Usually appears late season after migrating from alfalfa. Plow a trench to trap larvae and spray only infested zones. Whole-field treatment is rarely needed.
For organic fields, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) works well.

Treatment tip
Cotton tolerates 50% leaf loss early or late season, but only 20–25% during fruiting.

Recommended actives

  • Bt (Group 11): safe for beneficials.

  • Chlorantraniliprole (Group 28): effective, selective.

  • Methoxyfenozide (Group 18): growth regulator.

  • Indoxacarb (Group 22A): moderate control.

  • Avoid acephate or methomyl—can trigger mite outbreaks.

Description
Slender, hard-bodied larvae of click beetles, yellow to brown in color. They live in soil and look like small mealworms with a flat underside and tiny hooks at the tail.

Damage
They chew and destroy seeds or seedlings underground. Plants may fail to emerge, or feeding wounds can lead to seedling diseases.

Management
Common after alfalfa or pasture crops. Reduce infestations by cultivating, flooding, or dry fallowing before planting. Avoid planting into cool, wet soils that favor their activity.

nematodes

Description
Root-knot nematodes are microscopic worms that live in the soil and attack cotton roots. Their feeding causes root galls (swellings), which block the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. They often appear together with Fusarium wilt, making the disease more severe.

Damage
Infected roots develop knots or galls, and plants show poor growth, yellowing, and wilting. Severely infested plants are stunted and produce fewer bolls.

Management

  • Use resistant cotton varieties, such as NemX HY, to reduce infection and nematode reproduction.

  • Rotate crops with non-hosts like alfalfa, sorghum, small grains, or nematode-resistant tomatoes.

  • Keep fields weed-free to remove alternate hosts.

  • Avoid continuous cotton planting in infested fields.

  • Clean soil from tools and equipment to prevent spread.

Cultural Control

  • Clean fallow or winter grains can lower nematode levels, but keep fallow periods under one year to protect soil microbes.

  • Alfalfa rotations (2–3 years) with resistant varieties are especially effective.

  • Precision tillage or ripping (deep loosening of planting rows) can help roots grow deeper, reducing damage.

Resistance
Varieties like NemX HY resist southern root-knot nematodes and suppress several other Meloidogyne species. However, avoid planting resistant cotton in the same field every year—nematodes can adapt over time.

Monitoring
Check roots for galls during the season or at harvest. For detailed evaluation, collect soil samples and send them to a lab to measure nematode populations.

Impact of Cotton Pests and Diseases

The impact of pests and diseases on cotton crops can be devastating, leading to:

  • Yield Reduction: Diseases like Fusarium wilt and pests such as the cotton bollworm can drastically lower cotton yields.
  • Quality Degradation: Infestations of cotton bollworm and aphids can lower the quality of the cotton fiber, making it unsuitable for premium markets.
  • Crop Failure: In extreme cases, unchecked pest and disease problems can result in total crop loss.
  • Economic Loss: Significant yield losses and reduced fiber quality can result in considerable economic losses for cotton farmers.

Cotton Pest and Disease Management Solutions

Control Indicators:

  • Early Detection: Regular monitoring of cotton plants for early signs of pest and disease presence.
  • Preventive Treatments: Timely application of fungicides and insecticides at critical stages of cotton growth can prevent large-scale infestations.

Critical Control Periods:

  • Seedling to Early Vegetative Stages: Protect young cotton plants from aphids and other pests.
  • Flowering and Boll Formation: Prevent damage from bollworm and diseases like leaf spot and Fusarium wilt.

Recommended Pesticides:

  • Fungicides: Mancozeb, Azoxystrobin, Thiram, and Prothioconazole for controlling various fungal diseases.
  • Insecticides: Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Pyrethroids, Chlorantraniliprole, and Spinosad for pest control, including aphids and bollworms.

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