It is well-recognised that the pest status of Helicoverpa spp.

The importance of Heliothis has grown with the advent of resistance in H.armigera to various pesticides.

The potential for extensive adult movements is one of the key factors contributing to the success of Heliothis spp. as pests (Farrow & Daly 1987, Fitt 1989).

Heliothis spp. are clearly the major pests of Australian cotton and consequently there has been considerable research on their biology, ecology and control (Zalucki et al 1986).

During the 1988/89 cotton season trials were conducted to evaluate the potential of synthetic pheromones to control the pink -spotted boll worm, Pectinophora scutigera, by mating disruption