Evaluation of pre herbicide and seed treatment on thrips infestation in cotton

Since 2011, foliar treatments for thrips infestations in cotton have increased to nearly two applications per acre on 75% of total acres treated with an insecticidal seed treatment. Additionally, glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth has become problematic for Mississippi producers.  As a result, the use of preemergence herbicides has increased dramatically since 2008. From 2008 to 2012 the number of cotton bales lost due to thrips damage increased from 152 bales lost in 2008 to 5,057 bales lost in 2012. In cotton, both thrips damage and PRE herbicides can interfere with emergence. Previous research on thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, have both to be effective in controlling thrips in cotton. Given the increased use of PRE herbicides in Mississippi cotton production, it has been suggested that PRE herbicides may be contributing to the increase in thrips populations over the past several growing seasons.  Therefore, the goal of this research was to evaluate the use of PRE herbicides and seed treatments on thrips populations and observe how each of these coincide with cotton development and yield.