Synthetic pyrethroid use patterns on cotton in the United States were surveyed to help provide background information in evaluating the potential of Heliothis virescens and H. zea resistance. Pyrethroid use varied from an annual mean of approximately 8 applications in Georgia, Florida, the Imperial Valley, and the Central Texas River Bottom, to less than 1 application in the San Joaquin Valley, the Rolling Plains, Tennessee, and Missouri. Pyrethroids accounted for a low of 10% of the total in the San J. Valley to 90% or more in South Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona, the High Plains, and Oklahoma. The number of Heliothis-treated generations on cotton ranged from 1 to up to parts of 5. Heliothis complex species composition varied greatly from area to area and from generation to generation within the same region, with H. virescens being the predominant species in the more heavily treated areas. Future pyrethroid use was generally expected to remain about the same or trend upward slightly in response to yield enhancement claims, better boll weevil pyrethroids coming on line and/or more competitive pricing.