The MOTHZV dynamic Heliothis computer model was used to compare the relative effects of various management strategies on predicted cotton lint yield and numbers of pests or beneficial insects of Heliothis on cotton. Under several pest infestation levels, strategies involving application of control measures through economic thresholds, economic thresholds with frequent sampling of computer predictions of pest levels, or early-season application of control measures (i.e., adjusting the date of release of parasites or application date of insecticides) were compared. The latter two strategies required frequent sampling of pest populations, but 1/.3-1/2 the numbers of released parasites or numbers of insecticide applications as required when using standard economic thresholds to keep predicted losses under 10%.