The disruptive nature of many of the broad spectrum insecticides on which heliothis control relies on cotton limits the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, particularly where they place emphasis on natural enemies found in the cotton crop. From this perspective, there is a need for selective products that will satisfactorily reduce heliothis numbers yet conserve beneficial insects (parasites and predators). Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV)is one microbial agent that may adequately fill this role. This paper presents trial data on NPV from Helicoverpa zea (Gemstar@) used against heliothis on cotton in southeast Queensland during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons.