Arthropod pests reduced overall yield by 9.26% in 2000. Acreage was up and yields were down, largely due to weather. As in 1999, Texas losses overshadowed those in the remainder of the cotton belt. Boll weevil, no longer a major factor east of the Mississippi River, was again the number 1 pest of US cotton in 2000. While infesting only about 44% of the acres it reduced yields by 2.86% across the US. Another surprise was the beet armyworm which came in second at 2.11% loss. The bollworm/budworm complex, causing 1.43% loss, was the number three arthropod pest of cotton in 2000. Eighty-one percent (81%) of US cotton acres was infested by heliothines. Of those, 79% were bollworms, Heliocoverpa zea. Thrips at 0.59% loss was 4^th and Lygus at 0.56% were 5^th . Stink bugs (0.52%), aphids (0.44%) , spider mites (0.22%), cotton fleahopper (0.15%) and western flower thrips (0.14%) complete the the top ten insect pests of 2000. Total cost of management and loss to insects to the 2000 crop was $1.671 billion or $117.32 per acre. Of those costs approximately $62 are direct insect management costs.