The western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), was first observed on cotton in Louisiana in 1984 in Caddo Parish. It is now present in at least five parishes in northwestern Louisiana and six parishes in northeastern Louisiana. Spring populations are present on numerous wild and cultivated hosts. Significant numbers of WFT do not infest cotton until blooming occurs and visible damage to cotton is not usually evident until mid-July or later. Observable injury by WFT occurs on leaves, leaf petioles, blooms, and small bolls. Pollination and boll abscission are apparently unaffected by moderate numbers (20-75) of WFT in blooms.