62ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT ON COTTON INSECT RESEARCH AND CONTROL.

There were 7.755,000 acres of U.S. Cotton (Upland and Pima) harvested with an average of 810 pounds of lint per acre (USDA -January 2009 report) in 2008. Arthropod pests of cotton reduced yield by 3.80% in 2008. Lygus reduced yields by 1.003% attaining losses greater than all other pests. The bollworm /budworm complex were second at 0.764%. The bollworm was the predominant heliothine species to attack cotton in 2008. Bollworms were estimated to make up 76% of the population Stink bugs (0.747%) were 3^rd and Thrips (0.5167%) were 4^th. Cotton fleahoppers (0.231%) rounded out the top five cotton arthropod pests for the year. Beltwide, direct insect management costs amounted to $55.53 acre. Cost plus loss is estimated at $543 million. (see M.R. Williams, this proceedings). a [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]