The Problem Periodically, late season outbreaks of pests such as thrips, jassids, cluster caterpillar and spur-throated locusts may cause damage to the cotton canopy and/ or flowers.

The cotton plant has two main sets of traits that contribute to its resistance to pests: (1) chemical (e.g. gossypol) and morphological defences (e.g. okra-leaf) and (2) compensatory mechanisms for regrowth (e.g.