At-Planting Insecticide Efficacy for the Control of Tobacco Thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) in the Mid-Southern U.S.

Authors: LIPSEY, HUNTER - Mississippi State University; TOWLES, TYLER - Mississippi State University; CROW, WHITNEY - Mississippi State University; CATCHOT, ANGUS - Mississippi State University; THRASH, BENJAMIN - University Of Arkansas; STUDEBAKER, GLENN - University Of Arkansas; KERNS, DAVID - Texas A&M University; BROWN, SEBE - University Of Tennessee; FLOYD, CHASE - University Of Missouri; VILLEGAS, JAMES - Louisiana State University Agcenter; LORENZ, GUS - University Of Arkansas; GORE, JEFFREY - Mississippi State University; STEWART, SCOTT - University Of Tennessee; SELTER, NICHOLAS - University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Allen, Kerry; Little, Nathan; COOK, DON - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2026
Publication Date: 3/24/2026
Citation: Lipsey, H.L., Towles, T.B., Crow, W.D., Catchot, A.L., Thrash, B.C., Studebaker, G.E., Kerns, D.L., Brown, S.A., Floyd, C., Villegas, J., Lorenz, G., Gore, J., Stewart, S., Selter, N.J., Allen, K.C., Little, N., Cook, D.R. 2026. At planting insecticide efficacy for the control of tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca Hinds) in the Mid-southern U.S.. Journal of Cotton Science. 30:29-38. https://doi.org/10.56454/DSNL1868.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56454/DSNL1868

Interpretive Summary: Tobacco thrips are the most prevalent insect pest of seedling cotton in the mid-Southern U.S. Thrips damage cotton by piercing plant tissues and sucking juices causing stunted growth and delayed maturity. Insecticidal treatments are the most common means of controlling thrips on cotton and can be delivered in one of three different ways. Cotton seeds can be treated with insecticides, infurrow applications of insecticides can be used at planting, and foliar insecticide applications can be used on developing plants. Tobacco thrips have recently developed resistance to the major class of insecticides used as seed treatments, the neonicotinoid insecticides. Tobacco thrips have demonstrated resistance to the pyrethroid class of insecticides and recent field and lab experiments have shown a decrease in the efficacy of organophosphate insecticides. To evaluate the current performance of atplanting insecticide treatments, studies were conducted at 13 locations across the mid-Southern U.S. from 2014-2023. Control of immature thrips indicated no definitive decline or increase in percent control of any at-planting insecticide throughout the study, but rather fluctuations were likely due to pest pressure, regional variation of thrips, and environmental factors. This research supports the Secretary of Agriculture’s priority of increasing profitability of farmers and ranchers.

Technical Abstract: Thrips, especially tobacco thrips, are the most prevalent seedling pest of cotton in the mid-Southern U.S. Commonly used methods for controlling tobacco thrips in cotton include insecticidal seed treatments, at-planting in-furrow insecticide applications, and supplemental foliar insecticide applications. However, tobacco thrips have recently developed resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides, which are primarily used as at-planting seed treatments. Pyrethroid insecticides also provide poor control of tobacco thrips across much of the mid-Southern U.S., due to widespread resistance. Recent field and lab experiments have shown a decrease in the efficacy of organophosphate insecticides, primarily acephate, which are typically applied as a foliar treatment to manage tobacco thrips. To evaluate the current performance of at-planting insecticide treatments, studies were conducted at 13 locations across the mid-Southern U.S. from 2014-2023. Percent control of immature thrips data indicated no definitive decline or increase in percent control of any at-planting insecticide throughout the study, but rather fluctuations in control likely due to pest pressure, regional variation of thrips, and environmental factors.