Sticky cotton is the term used in the textile industry to describe situations when cotton lint sticks to textile equipment during fiber processing and yarn manufacturing. Cotton stickiness is usually caused by aphid or whitefly honeydew deposits on the lint; however, natural plant sugars can result in stickiness. Levels of stickiness can be affected by timing of insects at boll opening, insect numbers and weather conditions prior to harvest. The best method to determine stickiness potential of a lint sample is with a physical method such as a miniature card or the thermodetector. Chemical methods presently used are based on detection of reducing sugars. Recent information, however, shows that only 15-0% of honeydew is reducing sugar. Better measurement and detection methods are being sought. Work is underway to develop methodology to correct stickiness once cotton has been contaminated. Present efforts involve treatments of seed cotton at the gin, at the picker during harvest, or in the field just prior to harvest. Cotton lint contaminated with insect honeydew is serious, affecting operating efficiency, yarn quality, and fabric quality. Management of honeydew contamination must be included as a clear objective of pest management programs for aphids and whiteflies in U.S. cotton.