Kisanwala

23 Jun 2025​
4 min read
Cotton Pest Identification and Easy Management Practices.
Aphids (Aphis gossypii) Pest:
Aphids pest

Symptoms:

Sticky honeydew on leaves, curling and yellowing of leaves, and stunted plant growth.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Imidacloprid 17.8% SL @ 60 ml/acre – Confidor, Admire

Mode of Application:

Spray directly on infested plants, ensuring thorough leaf coverage for fast and effective aphid control.

Jassid / Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula) Pest:
Jassid / Leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula)

Symptoms:

Leaves show yellowing at edges, curling, tip burns, and plants remain stunted.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Thiamethoxam 25% WG @ 40 g per acre – Actara, Plethora

Mode of Application:

Spray on the crop canopy, covering all leaves thoroughly for quick and effective jassid control.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci ) Pest:
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Pest:

Symptoms:

Yellowing, sticky honeydew, sooty mould, leaf curling, and acts as a vector for the leaf curl virus.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Buprofezin 25% SC @ 400–600 ml/200–400 liters of water – Profex Super

Mode of Application:

Spray thoroughly on the lower side of leaves for best whitefly control and virus protection.

Thrips (Thrips tabaci)Pest:
Thrips (Thrips tabaci) Pest

Symptoms:

Silvery streaks, leaf curling and wrinkling, and reduced plant growth.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Fipronil 5% SC @ 400 ml per acre – Regent, Osheen

Mode of Application:

Spray evenly on crop foliage, targeting both upper and lower leaf surfaces for maximum thrips control.

Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella, E. insulana)Pest:
Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella, E. insulana)Pest.

Symptoms:

Bore holes on bolls, shedding of squares and flowers, and damaged bolls.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Quinalphos 25% EC @ 400 ml per acre – Ekalux, Quinalphos

Mode of Application:

Spray directly on bolls and squares for rapid and effective spotted bollworm control.

Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) Pest:

Symptoms:

Rosette flowers, bore holes in bolls, lint damage, and seed damage.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG @ 80–100 g per acre – Proclaim, Emamectin (dosage may vary by product; always follow label directions)

Mode of Application:

Spray thoroughly on the crop at flowering and boll stage for fast and effective pink bollworm control.

Mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) Pest:
Mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) Pest

Symptoms:

White cottony masses on stems, branches, and bolls; stunted plant growth; distorted shoots; yellowing and dropping of leaves; honeydew contamination of lint.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Profenofos 50% EC @ 600 ml per acre – Curacron, Profex

Mode of Application:

Spray thoroughly on all infested plant parts for quick and effective mealybug control.

Red Cotton Bug (Dysdercus cingulatus) Pest:
Red Cotton Bug (Dysdercus cingulatus) Pest

Symptoms:

Red bugs are visible on bolls, lint staining, seed damage, shriveled or discoloured seeds, and premature boll opening.

Chemical & Dosage (per acre):

Malathion 50% EC @ 400 ml per acre – Malathion, Cythion

Mode of Application:

Spray directly on open bolls and affected areas for fast and effective red cotton bug control.

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