Insects reduced yields by 7.98% across the US in 1998. Bollworm/budworm were the most damaging pests at 2.71% loss, boll weevil was second with 2.30% loss and Lygus were third at1.04%. Insect losses represent more than 1.7 million bales of cotton and cost of insect management plus loss amounts to $1.224 billion.