Transects of pitfall traps were used to monitor densities of epigeal carabid beetles and spiders in a 10 ha conventional-tilled Georgia cotton field with permanent refugia strips. Carabid and spider densities were significantly highest in the refugia strips throughout the season. Carabid and spider densities in the 12-row cotton plots on either side of the refugia strips were significantly higher than densities in cotton plots more than 12 rows from the refugia. Overall densities of both groups, even in the most distant cotton plots, remained high throughout the 1996 season, and no pre-plant incorporated or foliar insecticide treatments were applied.