photo of thripsThrips: Seedling cotton is attacked by several species of thrips. Adult thrips are less than 1/16th of an inch in length and have fringed wings which are usually folded along the back. Immature thrips are wingless and are often a pale yellow or straw colored. Damage is caused by feeding on very young developing plant parts, resulting in leaves that are crinkled and distorted once they expand.