Lygus bugs, Lygus hesperus Knight, are annual insect pests of cotton in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The lack of effective biological control or host plant resistance to this pest dictates that insecticides are a primary tool for lygus bug management. L. hesperus has a long history of development of resistance to insecticides. Therefore, research must be continued to evaluate the efficacy of registered insecticides and to screen new candidate insecticides. The objectives for new lygus insecticides are materials with different modes of action and that have high selectivity for natural enemies. Achieving a balance between populations/the activity of natural enemies with effective lygus bug management is a challenge in the SJV. The most effective lygus control is obtained at the cost of a significant reduction in populations of beneficials, which may contribute to higher populations of spider mites and cotton aphids.