The Australian cotton growers for the past 5 years have come to realise the important role beneficial insects play in managing pests in their cotton farms. With a strong push by the cotton industry to adopt a true integrated pest management (IPM) programs, beneficial insects are increasingly assuming a major role in the cotton system. As a result, techniques required to maximise both the abundance and activity of this beneficial insects will continue to be a priority in the cotton industry. The use of beneficial insect refuges and most importantly the use of food supplements (food sprays) will become major tools in the Australian cotton industry as growers acquire more knowledge about a true IPM and the role of beneficial insects. The development of food sprays and the advent of the predator to pest ratio in particular has already educated growers about the need to conserve beneficial insects in the cotton system, and how to utilise them in cotton pest management programs.