Thrips were collected from cotton seedlings at four research stations representing distinct areas within the cotton production region of Louisiana during 1996 to 1998. Tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) were the most abundant species of thrips at all locations each year. Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) were collected in significant numbers (28% to 30% of thrips adults collected) at the Macon Ridge Station and the Red River Research Station in 1996. However, in 1997 and 1998 the occurrence of this species was very low at all locations.