Spider mites in Arkansas cotton fields and adjacent weeds were sampled weekly between 2 June and 23 July 1998 to determine when mites colonized weeds and cotton and what weed species supported early mite populations. The most important weed host was palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri. Mites appeared to move from palmer amaranth to cotton. Control of this weed on field borders in May and early June may reduce mite infestations in cotton. Selected miticides were tested in a commercial cotton field for efficacy against a heavy mite population. Overall, Kelthane, Zephyr, and Comite provided the best control of mites. Pirate and Capture provided equal control to Kelthane, Zephyr and Comite at 7 days posttreatment but by 14 days mite populations were higher. Curacron appeared to flare mite populations.