The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, has historically been a sporatic vegetative feeding pest of cotton. However, they occurred over wide areas in the southeastern U.S. in 1988, beginning as early as late May, and remained at economic levels for eight to twelve weeks. Squares and blooms were preferred feeding sites as well as foliage. Control attempts ranged from marginal to unacceptable with control cost ranging as high as $150 to $200 per acre. Several thousand acres were abandoned due to damage from this pest. Observations were made concerning threshold levels, scouting techniques, feeding habits and insecticide performance under grower conditions.