Get Rid of This Texas Cotton Field Pest Immediately

Anyone who either grows cotton or has worked at a farm with cotton crops knows that some pests are worse than others, and even one tiny bug has the potential to ruin entire crops.

Before I reveal the worst pest that you could find on your cotton crops, let's go over some honorable mentions that still pose dangerous risks to the health of your cotton plants.

Aphids and Mealybugs in Texas

Here in the Lone Star State, cotton aphids are tiny bugs that come in all shapes and sizes. You can know what to expect based on what these guys look like on your crops.

For instance, the smaller, yellow aphids produce very slowly, so getting ahead of any infestation early can help your chances of not losing many plants. On the other hand, the larger, darker aphids develop quickly and produce offspring fast.

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Cotton mealybugs are a different story. These pests are no larger than 5mm and are noticeable by their white wax secretion.

Both cotton aphids and mealybugs can cause premature defoliation of cotton crops and can cause cotton leaves to yellow and curl.

Texas Cotton Pests: Seed Bugs and Cutworms

Seed bugs get their name because, you guessed it, they chow down on cotton seeds and can reduce the germination of crops by nearly 90%. You know you have a seed bug infestation when a strong foul odor is present in your crop since these bugs often get crushed inside cotton plants.

Black cutworms are also pests to keep out of your cotton crops. Even though they look like adorable caterpillars, the larvae burrow into cotton stems and eat the seedlings.

Worst Cotton Pest in Texas

Finally, what is arguably the worst pest for Texas cotton crops is the cotton bollworm. These guys have long stripes running down their bodies and prefer to live inside the leaves and shoots of cotton plants.

In just two weeks, as little as three larvae can destroy all cotton bolls. One major prevention method that proves successful is introducing non-threatening natural bollworm enemies like ants that will remove the larvae while keeping the cotton plant intact.