The major challenge to sustainable use of Bt cotton is the risk that the target pests, Helicoverpa spp, may evolve resistance to the engineered toxins.

This project was established to look at various aspects of insecticides in cotton and the factors that would directly affect decision making. Helicoverpa spp. are still the primary pests of cotton in Australia.

Helicoverpa spp. moths continue to pose significant pest management problems for Queensland cotton growers. To address the Helicoverpa spp.

In Australian cotton fields, the eggs, larvae and pupae of Helicoverpa armigera and H. punctigera are attacked by a diverse range of parasitic wasps and flies.

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and H. punctigera (Wallengren) are serious pests of cotton in Australia. These pests constitute a continually increasing production cost for most field crops,