Resistance was documented to representative chemicals from the three major classes of insecticides (carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids) used to control tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.), on cotton in the United States. Over 1900 male tobacco budworm moths were bioassayed for pyrethroid resistance from May through August 1996 against a 10 µg dose of cypermethrin utilizing the adult vial test. Pyrethroid resistance levels during 1996 were similar to 1995 levels. Two-hundred male tobacco budworm moths were bioassayed for resistance to profenofos using the adult vial test. Resistance to profenofos was similar to 1995 levels. Also, 199 male tobacco budworm moths were bioassayed for resistance to methomyl using the adult vial test. Resistance to methomyl was similar to 1995 levels. Generally, resistance to carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids appears to have stabilized based on monitoring data from 1987 through 1996. Low densities of tobacco budworm populations generally persisted in Louisiana during 1995. However, field control failures did occur in fields with moderate to heavy tobacco budworm populations. Topical application bioassays of larval progeny from several 1995 field collections of tobacco budworms indicated significant resistance to carbamate, pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. Over 3600 male bollworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), moths were bioassayed against a 5 µg/vial dose of cypermethrin. Data from these bioassays were similar to those obtained from 1988-1995, but indicate that bollworm susceptibility to pyrethroids may be changing.