There are only four insecticides currently in development that have the potential as registrable cotton pest control products. None of these compounds are Heliothis larvicides. In the next 5-7 years there appears to be very few newly emerging insect control agents that will alleviate the insecticide resistance dilemma currently facing the cotton industry. In addition, registration of new and established products, environmental and regulatory restrictions, and the increasing difficulty in synthesizing and developing new insecticides will provide additional hurdles and impede product introductions. These sobering indicators emphasize the need to better manage existing products and agronomic practices. It should also place high priority research emphasis on numerous insect-control related technologies such as insecticide delivery, insect detection and monitoring, plant breeding, microbial control, semiochemicals, and insecticide formulations, that if effective, could significantly improve the efficient use and future of cotton insecticides. What the future holds for insect control is a shift in focus from total reliance on specific products to reliance on management programs such as insecticide resistance and pest management. It also challenges and may even necessitate cotton researchers and growers to innovatively integrate non-traditional insect control agents into the management strategies of the future.