Outbreaks of Cotton Thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) A Review of Causes, Impacts and Management Strategies

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a globally significant crop, vital to the economies of many developing countries due to its multifaced uses in fiber, oil, and livestock feed production. However, its productivity is severely threatened by infestation of thrips (Thrips tabaci L), a highly invasive pest that causes substantial yield and quality losses. This review synthesizes the current understanding of T. tabaci outbreaks in cotton, emphasizing their biology, ecology, causative factors, and management strategies. The pest exhibits rapid population growth under favorable conditions, completing multiple generations annually. Environmental factors particularly humidity, rainfall, and moderate temperature (around 30 °C)-strongly influence thrips abundance, while weak correlation are noted with higher temperatures. Outbreaks are further driven by anthropogenic activities such as excessive pesticide use, monoculture expansion, and poor crop rotation practices, which disrupt natural pest-enemy balance and foster insecticide resistance. Spinosad and spinetoram have demonstrated relatively lower resistance level among tested insecticides, while acephate and ulala remain effective chemical options. Nonetheless, reliance on chemicals alone is unsustainable; thus, integrated pest management (IPM) approaches are increasingly advocated. Cultural measures including crop rotation, timely sowing, and use of resistant varieties (e.g., CRIS-7A, AA-802) reduce thrips incidence, whereas biological control agents such as Chrysoperla carnea, Coccinella septempunctata, and predatory mites play crucial roles in natural regulation. The review concludes that sustainable thrips management depends on the integration of ecological, technical, and chemical approaches, supported by farmer education and policy-level interventions. Further research into thrips ecology, resistance mechanisms, and climate-resilient IPM practices is essential to mitigate future outbreaks and ensure stable cotton production.