Before the initiation of Missouri’s boll weevil eradication program and the major tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius), outbreak during the 2002-growing season, a limited amount (15 percent or less) of the state’s cotton acreage was planted to Bt varieties. Since then Bt cotton varieties have been used on 65 percent or more of Missouri’s acreage. As a consequence of reduced insecticide oversprays targeting the boll weevil and lepidopteran pests, management of piercing-sucking pests such as aphids and particularly plant bugs have become more important. In 2003, Missouri cotton producers spent over 5.2 million dollars to combat plant bug infestations, but still lost over 1.6 million pounds of cotton to these pests. The intent of this presentation is to summarize the latest extension management recommendations and field research results for plant bugs in southeast Missouri.