A series of laboratory and field tests conducted during 1995-96 in Louisiana evaluated the efficacy of Bollgard (Coker and NuCOTN 33b/35b), Pirate (chlorfenapyr, AC303,630) , Tracer (spinosad, DE-105), Proclaim (emamectin benzoate, MK-244), and Intrepid (RH 2485) against the bollworm (BW) and tobacco budworm (TBW) complex. In the laboratory feeding study, Bollgard in Coker and Deltapine cotton lines had no significant effect on 96 HAT mortality values of L3 stage BW larvae, but produced >90% mortality of L3 stage TBW larvae compared to that for non-Bollgard parent lines. In the field tests, the efficacy of the foliar insecticides was generally similar to that of the NuCOTN varieties against the BW/TBW complex. Seed cotton yields were more variable as a result of other non-target insect pest effects, but generally followed trends similar to that of the efficacy data. These results confirm the activity of transgenic and novel foliar control strategies against Louisiana BW/TBW populations and demonstrate that numerous options will be available to cotton producers in the near future.