Most our cotton is just coming up and we are thinking more about planting than thrips management.  However, the cool conditions that have slowed emergence means that seedling will be exposed to thrips for a relatively long time.  As the time between planting and cotton reaching the second or third true leaf stage increases, so does the risk of thrips further delaying the crop and causing yield loss.  Cruiser or Gaucho seed treatments of typically provide about 21 days of control before thrips populations begin the rebound.  Keep track of the days elapsed between emergence and seeing the first true leaf.  Consider applying insecticide before the second true leaf if it takes longer than 14 days after emergence before the first true leaf is visible.  Certainly apply a foliar insecticide if the first true leaf is showing significant signs of thrips injury and especially if immature thrips are already present.

The threshold of one thrips per plant applies, but I am rarely concerned at this level of infestation unless immature thrips are also present (indicating seed treatments are beginning to fade).  The standard treatments are:

• Orthene or acephate @ 0.20 lb ai/acre
• Bidrin 8E @ 2.5-3 oz/acre
• Dimethoate 4E @ 6 oz/acre