Experiments were conducted to determine whether on cotton, Rutherglen Bug and Grey Cluster Bug were able to survive, develop and reproduce. Their ability to damage cotton was also assessed.

In recent years sap-sucking bugs have been associated with early season damage.to cotton crops in most of the production centres in New South Wales and Queensland.

Over the last quarter of a century, as problems in relying completely on pesticides for control of insects have become apparent, there has been renewed interest in the possibility of breeding cottons less susceptible