Insect Pests:
- Boll weevil: Damages bolls, reducing yield and quality.
- Cotton aphid: Feeds on plant sap, causing stunting and reduced yields.
- Thrips: Feed on young leaves, causing stippling and discoloration.
- Whiteflies: Vector plant diseases and cause leaf yellowing and defoliation.
- Lygus bugs: Damage young buds and bolls, leading to stunted growth and reduced yields.
- Pink bollworm: Larvae feed on bolls, damaging seeds and reducing quality.
- Tobacco budworm: Larvae feed on buds, flowers, and bolls, causing yield losses.
- Armyworms: Larvae feed on leaves, stems, and buds, causing extensive defoliation.
- Spider mites: Feed on leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and premature defoliation.
- Fleahoppers: Damage plant growth points and leaves, leading to reduced yields and poor quality.
Vertebrate Pests:
- Rabbits: Feed on young plants, causing significant stand reductions.
- Birds: Damage bolls, reducing yields and quality.
- Rodents: Feed on seeds, damaging yield potential.
Other Pests:
- Nematodes: Parasitic worms that damage roots, reducing nutrient uptake and plant growth.
- Weeds: Compete with cotton plants for water, nutrients, and light, reducing yields.
- Diseases: Such as fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, and root rot, which can cause significant losses.