This article reports the second year of evaluating the potential of relay strip crops for predator enhancement in cotton. Predator abundances were quantified in 6 cover crops to examine their potential as relay strip crops for predator enhancement in cotton in 1996-97 at Munday, TX. Strip crop treatments included 3 fall planted crops [fall canola, vetch, and wheat], 3 spring planted crops [spring canola, forage sorghum, and grain sorghum], and a relay system comprising canola planted in the fall and grain sorghum planted in the spring. Cotton planted adjacent to cotton served as a check. Potential of each strip crop for enhancing predator abundance in cotton was evaluated by quantifying predator numbers in cotton adjacent to each strip crop treatment. Also, the efficacy of each strip crop in suppressing pest populations in cotton was assessed by quantifying the abundances of cotton aphids and bollworms in cotton planted adjacent to each strip crop. Among fall crops, vetch had higher predator numbers than canola or wheat. Among spring crops, forage sorghum supported fewer predators than spring canola and grain sorghum. Predator abundance in cotton was significantly affected by strip crops, with higher predator numbers in all cotton plots adjacent to strip crops compared with the check plot. Predator species composition varied significantly among strip crops, but it did not vary significantly in cotton plots adjacent to strip crops. Aphid numbers did not reach to the economic threshold of 50 aphids/leaf for 3 wk in cotton plots adjacent to any of the strip crops examined, but aphid numbers exceeded the economic threshold in check plots. Strip crops did not significantly impact bollworm abundance in cotton.