Pymetrozine and thiamethoxam are new insecticides being developed by Novartis Crop Protection for management of cotton pests. Pymetrozine is a highly selective insecticide that has excellent activity against a wide range of aphid species, including the cotton aphid. Thiamethoxam is a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide that has excellent activity against a number of sucking pests in cotton, including aphids, whiteflies, thrips, tarnished plant bugs and fleahoppers.

This manuscript presents results from field trials conducted in 1999 to evaluate the efficacy of both pymetrozine and thiamethoxam for the cotton aphid. Both pymetrozine (0.086 lbs ai/A) and thiamethoxam (0.023-0.047 lbs ai/A) provided significant control of cotton aphid populations in five field trials conducted by Novartis research personnel.