Cotton integrated pest management (IPM) is a constantly evolving approach to managing insect and mite pests in cotton. The goal of IPM is to integrate all means of managing pest populations with the aim of reducing insecticide use whilst maintaining profitability (IPM Guidelines, 1999/00). The Australian cotton crop is subject to a range of pests that often show a wide range in abundance between seasons. Whilst a number of new relatively selective chemical control products have become available the increasing scrutiny on chemical use by regulators has made application of some chemicals, both new and old, very difficult. This has provided a strong motivation to use more environmentally friendly insecticides and to reduce overall insecticide use. The rapid adoption of the 'new' chemistry by growers and consultants is reflected in an increasing awareness of the value of beneficial insects in the Australian cotton agroecosystem. Cotton IPM in Australia is not easy; indeed pest management in cotton has not been easy since the single tactic of programming Synthetic Pyrethroids began to fail in the early 1980's. Insecticide resistance and environmental impact are the legacy of over reliance on a limited number of control options for heliothis. Resistance, increasing insecticide costs and the need to reduce environmental pollution are driving the continual development of a management approach that seeks to combine all the 'tools and tactics' available to growers and consultants to deal with multiple pest species in various combinations. The objective of IPM is to use all the tools in the toolbox in a way that creates a balanced approach that results in an overall reduction in pesticide use, hence reducing environmental problems and resistance while maintaining profitability. Successful cotton IPM in Australia takes a commitment to planning so that all the tools and tactics that are available can be used effectively