Heliothis virescens (F.) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) oviposited on early season cotton Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants taller than their neighbors in the field. Therefore, random selection of plants is recommended when scouting for eggs. Under cage conditions, H. virescens oviposited preferentially on plants manipulated to lower their terminals. Thus, terminal height, per se, does not cue H. virescens to prefer taller plants.