The efficacy of several insecticides and cotton plant damage by the cotton aphid was evaluated. Efficacy tests indicated that Capture and Karate performed as well as, or better than all insecticides tested. Population resurgence was more rapid with Karate than with Capture. Control failures with Capture and Karate were observed at one location. Orthene and Orthene + Karate may also be an alternative for aphid control. Aphid suppression was observed for all other insecticides tested (i. e. Thiodan, Baythroid, Curacron, Curacron + Lorsban, Dimethioate, Dimethioate + 23% Urea, and Thiodan + orthene)

Heavy aphid infestations reduced yield, but did not effect lint or seed weight. Plant damage samples indicated heavy aphid populations reduced plant height, the number of plant nodes, and reduced the total number of bolls per plant. Boll retention on the first and second fruiting position, of a sympodial branch, was lower in the heavy infestation than in the light infestation. Boll retention on the first five sympodial branches was also lower in the high infestation. No effect on the number of monopodial branches or the node number of the first sympodial was observed.