Whiteflies are a primary pest of cotton, a pest that has known resistances to commonly used compounds. It is critical that those managing cotton know how to properly sample whitefly adults and large nymphs within their fields. First and foremost, proper sampling is key when making spray decisions. When it is necessary to treat for whiteflies, the fundamentals of chemistry selection and the importance of chemistry rotation need to be remembered, specifically in cross-commodity areas. Through accurate sampling, thoughtful treatment decisions, and by following the first principles of resistance management, resistances in whiteflies can be managed.

An economically import pest of cotton is Lygus. Implementing an integrated management plan for Lygus is important for field managers to successfully control this pest. This includes proper sampling, limiting insecticide usage, timing applications correctly, choosing the right compound, and ideally, avoiding having to treat for Lygus at all by implementing Lygus action thresholds.

To successfully manage whiteflies in cotton it is important to work with the natural enemies present in the environment. Six key predators have been identified as being significant players in the control of whiteflies: Drapetis, Collops, crab spiders, big-eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, and lacewing larvae. Research has identified critical levels of predators that impact economic spray decisions for whiteflies. Understanding levels of these key predators in the field can aid field managers in making more confident whitefly spray decisions.