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COTTON INSECTS
Yusupov Ibragim Mirsaydalievich
Kokand State University,
Chemical Technology and Natural Sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of Biology,
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Agricultural Sciences
Phone: (998)-99-904-64-97, E-mail: ibrohimjony999@gmail.com
Abstract:
This article discusses the biological characteristics, development cycle, and impact of
the main sucking pests of cotton - thrips, aphids, mites , and other insects - on cotton yields. It
also discusses effective methods of combating these pests, including the role and importance of
agrotechnical, biological , and chemical measures. The article emphasizes the relevance of
monitoring cotton fields, controlling pest populations , and applying integrated pest control
measures.
Key phrases:
Cotton sucking pests, Thrips (Thrips tabaci), Cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii),
Mites (Tetranychus urticae), Pest biology, Integrated pest management methods, Biological
control agents, Monitoring and forecasting, Environmentally safe protection, Negative impact on
productivity.
Several types of sucking pests damage potatoes: spider mites, plant sap suckers, aphids, and
thrips. The spider mite is a common and persistent pest of potatoes and other crops. It is an
omnivorous pest that sucks sap from potatoes, vegetables and cereals, legumes, and other crops,
causing great damage to them.
In addition, cotton is damaged by several types of pests. The most important of their operations
are tobacco processing, cotton processing, and sugarcane processing. The dynamics of the
development and damage of these pests in the Kew Gardens have changed dramatically. In
general, each type of trier has its own time to cause damage. For this reason, it is necessary to
fight them in a timely manner .[ 2 ]
1. Species – Spider mite – (Tetranushus urtisae Kosh.)
(
Family – Mites – Acaridae. (Family
– Mites – Acarina.)
The male spider mite is 0.2-0.3 mm long, the female is 0.4-0.6 mm long. It is reddish in early
spring and blue-yellow in summer. The development of the spider mite consists of egg, larva,
nymph , and adult stages.
The caterpillar has three pairs of legs, the nymph and adult have four pairs of legs. The spider
has 26 hairs in 7 rows on its back.
Spider mites, larvae, nymphs , and adults, suck plant sap and damage plants. They often settle in
large numbers on the back of the leaf, causing damage (Figure 1).
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The div length of the red female is
~0.5 mm.
Two-spotted spider mite
Figure 1 . Spider mite. [3]
Spider mite
accent
plant
remains and soil in the cracks It hibernates . It emerges
from hibernation when the average temperature reaches + 7
ο
C, that is, in March. The overall
development period lasts from 8 to 30 days, depending on weather conditions.
In Central Asia, the spider mite produces 12-20 generations.
2. Species - Tobacco thrips - (Thrips tabaci Lind.)
(
Family - Thripidae. Order – Thrips –
Thysanoptera.)
The tobacco thrips are 0.8-0.9 mm long. The div is oblong, the female is longer than the male,
and has two pairs of narrow wings. The mouthparts are adapted to a piercing-sucking type.
Tobacco thrips develop through larval and adult stages. Tobacco thrips overwinter under
plant debris. From March, thrips begin to develop in weeds, and later move to cotton. Each
female lays up to 100 eggs in plant tissue. Tobacco thrips produce 7-8 generations in Uzbekistan
(Figure 2).
Figure 2. Life cycle of tobacco thrips (Trips tabaci) .[ 4]
3. Species – Large cotton aphid – (Acyrthosiphon gossypii Mordy.) (Family – Aphids –
Aphididae. Order – Hemiptera.)
The cotton aphid is a winged or wingless insect of the aphid family. Its div length is
3.5-4.0 mm. The winged and wingless live-bearing females are light green or yellow in color,
with red eyes. The aphid-excreting tubes and tail are thin, about half the div length. The egg-
laying female is yellow-brown in color. During the year , it produces several parthenogenetic
(unfertilized) and one sexual generation (fertilized). Its eggs overwinter in cotton buds and in the
buds (Figure 3).
Figure 3. The div length of an adult cotton bollworm (Acyrthosiphon gossypii) is 2.5 -3.8
mm[5].
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It attacks cotton seedlings with the appearance of the second leaf. In July and early
August, the number of large cotton bollworms per bush reaches 100-200, then decreases slightly,
and by autumn their number increases again. Large cotton bollworms are the most dangerous
pest of cotton. They spread not only on the leaves, but also occupy the stem and pre-flowering
part; this causes the shedding of the fruiting organs. In autumn, the technological quality of
cotton fibers contaminated with louse feces is impaired.
Control methods:
When the number of insects reaches 150-250 per 100 plants, spray
organophosphorus preparations that act internally.
4. Type – Acacia louse – (Aphis craccivora Koch.)
(
Family – Aphididae. Order –
Hemiptera.)
The female acacia aphid, which gives birth to live young, is 1.3-2.2 mm long. The div is
black. The male differs from the female in that it has wings. This aphid ( like the alfalfa aphid)
overwinters as an egg on alfalfa or acacia. It emerges from hibernation in March. This aphid also
damages cotton by sucking the sap. Originally from the Palearctic, it is now a cosmopolitan
species.
The female has a dark brown div, a shiny tail-like growth , and brown or yellow legs.
The male, unlike the female, is winged (Figure 4).
Urgʻ ochisi .
A
live-bearing
female .
The man.
They
are
causing
damage by sucking the
sap from the cotton.
Figure 4. Acacia lice[6] .
Description.
The acacia aphid is a small species of aphid. The female has a shiny black
or dark brown div, a shiny tail and brown or yellow legs. The antennae have six joints, which,
along with the leg segments and the end of the div, are black. Adults have no wax on their
div surface, but nymphs are lightly dusted with wax. Winged females are up to 2.2 mm long
and have transverse barbs on their abdomen. Wingless females are slightly smaller.
Distribution.
The acacia aphid is of Palearctic origin, but its range has expanded, so it is
approaching cosmopolitan. In recent years, its range has extended north into Siberia and Canada,
and south into Chile and Argentina. It is abundant in the Mediterranean and subtropics, and is
one of the most common aphid species in the tropics. It infests peas in India, the Philippines,
Thailand, the southern United States, tropical Africa , and Latin America.
Hosts.
The
acacia aphid is polyphagous, meaning it feeds on a wide variety of plants, but it prefers members
of the legume family. Crops attacked by this aphid include cabbage, beets, peanuts, cotton, and
peas.
Life cycle.
In the Commonwealth, the Acacia aphid overwinters as eggs, often under
young alfalfa plants, but also in acacia, camellia, and perennial weeds. The larvae emerge in
early spring and initially feed on alfalfa. All of these aphids are female and reproduce by
parthenogenesis, producing four nymphs over a period of 8–12 days . By late April, the winged
females migrate to other host plants, most often acacia, and later to cotton, where this pest causes
the most damage. Later in the year , they may migrate back to alfalfa. The female aphid lives for
9 to 25 days and may give birth to 25 to 125 live births during her lifetime. Up to 20 generations
may be produced during the year. By November, winged forms develop and eggs are laid before
winter sets in.
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In warm climates, parthenogenetic reproduction occurs year-round. Winged male insects
are rare. Aphids are found on the growing points of plants, on young leaves, buds, flowers , and
developing shoots. They are often fed by ants, which feed on the secretions they produce and
deter predators.
Damage. The acacia aphid
directly damages plants by stunting and damaging growth .
The honeydew produced accumulates on the plants and promotes the growth of a mold that
limits photosynthesis. Aphids are vectors of a number of plant viruses, including peanut rosette
virus, peanut mosaic virus, peanut stunt virus, subterranean alfalfa stunt virus, bean common
mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, and alfalfa mosaic viruses.
Methods of controlling cotton sucking pests :
In March-April:
1. To organize the laying of 500 4-day-old goldfish eggs per hectare against sucking pests
(spider mites, thrips, aphids) and eggs and young larvae of thrips on weeds on the edges of fields,
2. To organize the placement of 1000-1500 goldfish, depending on the number of pests,
against sucking pests (spider mites, thrips, aphids) on cotton seedlings;
In May:
1. Dusting of sulfur powder at a rate of 25-30 kg per hectare or using 0.5-1.0 grade OOQ
(ISO) on field edges and cotton fields where spider mites are considered to be a constant source
of infestation;
2. To increase cotton's resistance to sucking pests, treat cotton seedlings with a 1.5
percent urea solution when they have 2-3 leaflets;
3. Depending on the development of sucking pests in cotton, spread 4-day-old goldfish
eggs over the field every 10 days at a rate of 1,000-1,500 per hectare;
In June:
1. In areas where spider mites are present, dusting with sulfur powder at a rate of 25-30
kg per hectare or treating with 0.5-1.0 grade OOQ (ISO) is recommended to prevent them;
2. Treatment of spider mite-infested areas with special acaricides using a hand-held
device;
July in the month of:
1. Identify areas of cotton fields affected by spider mites and organize treatment with
special acaricides if there is a risk of economic damage;
Conclusion
have a negative impact on cotton yield at all stages of development . Their proliferation
slows down plant growth and leads to deformations of leaves and stems. As analyzed in the
article, in order to effectively combat these pests, it is necessary to use not only chemical agents,
but also biological and agrotechnical methods in a comprehensive manner. In particular, the
protection of beneficial entomofauna, constant monitoring and the development of optimal
protection strategies are relevant today. On this basis, it is possible to achieve sustainable yields
by effectively protecting cotton from sucking pests.
References
1. Yusupov I.M. Entomologiya fanidan amaliy mashg’ulotlari. О‘zbekiston respublikasi
oliy ta’lim, fan va innovatsiyalar vazirligi. Qо‘qon davlat unversiteti. 60510100 – Biologiya.
O’quv qo’llanma. Toshkent-2025. 84-91 betlar.
2. "Science and Education" Scientific Journal / www.openscience.uz June 2024 / Volume
5 Issue 6. 8-11 betlar.
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetranychus_urticae
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrips_tabaci
5. https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Acyrthosiphon_gossypii_cotton_aphid.htm
6. https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Aphis_craccivora.htm
