The relationship between early season insecticide use and later outbreaks of aphids was investigated in three field experiments. Outbreaks of Aphis gossypii occurred in cotton treated with thiocarb, but not that treated with endosulfan or dimethoate. All insecticides caused significant reductions in predator abundance. Significant negative relationships were found between the abundance of predators early in the season and the final abundance of aphids. Predation is implicated as an important factor influencing the early season survival of aphids.