Researchers and pest management advisors take samples in order to make inferences about insect populations that will then help the researchers or advisors to make better decisions. In many cases, they need fast, accurate, inexpensive methods for detecting the presence of insects without having to dissect a sample unit such as a cotton boll. An acoustic sensor was developed that detects the presence of pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)) larvae while inside the boll and with a good degree of accuracy, as compared to dissecting (cutting) and boll boxes. Use of the acoustic sensor could reduce/eliminate the need to cut bolls thereby saving labor and/or allowing for more extensive sampling.