What are other ways insects are harmful to cotton?

Insects can be very harmful to cotton in a variety of ways. These include:

• Eating the leaves and stems of cotton plants reducing the overall yield.
• Spreading disease and insects through their saliva and feces.
• Damaging the fibers of the cotton reducing the quality of the fabric.

Insects can also harm cotton indirectly by competing for resources with the cotton plants including nutrient uptake and pollination. In addition some insects such as aphids can act as a vector for plant viruses which can cause serious damage to the cotton crop.