The goal of resistance management is to delay insect resistance by using strategies that maintain resistance gene frequencies at low levels. Pyramiding of naturally occurring plant resistance characters with Bt was evaluated as a potential means to improve insect resistance and the durability of Bt cotton. Two field free-choice experiments and one field no-choice experiment were conducted. Nectariless, glabrous, and high-terpenoid phenotypes were all useful pyramiding characters, although nectariless was more consistent. Pyramiding effectively reduced tobacco budworm and bollworm damage to plant terminals, flower buds, and bolls, compared to the Bt-control line. Examination of the Bt and high-terpenoid characters in a cage experiment demonstrated that both are potent plant resistance characters and that their effect on insect biology and plant injury is largely independent and redundant in plants possessing both factors. The effect of Bt on reducing tobacco budworm growth and plant damage is significantly greater than that of high terpenoids. Gene pyramiding should be developed further as a viable approach for delaying insect adaptation and improving insect resistance of Bt cotton.