The format for the 40th Annual Report is the same as that used for the 38th and 39th, which was approved by conferees in 1984. In this format the annual report is limited to: (1) a summary of the 1985 insect and crop conditions by state; (2) an insect losses statement; (3) changes in pesticides registration; (4) recent insect control recommendations since the 37th Annual Conference Report; (5) a listing of promising new pesticides; and (6) a brief summary of significant research accomplishments and progress in on-going research projects by state and federal organizations.

There were 9,270,502 acres of cotton harvested in 1986 with an average yield of 1.06 bales/acre or a total of 9,826,732 bales. The bollworm (BW), Heliothis zea (Boddie), and the tobacco budworm (TBW), H. virescens (F.), were the most damaging pests followed by the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, and plant bugs. Arthropod pest reduced yield by an estimated 7.76% in spite of the best control measures with an estimated $219,282,688 lost. The cost per acre for controlling arthropod pests was $24.70 for an estimated total of $228,981,350. So, total estimated costs of arthropod pests to cotton production approached one-half billion dollars in the USA in 1986.