Despite it's status as a pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Central Queensland, the biology and ecology of the pink-spotted bollworm, Pectinophora scutigera (Holdaway), is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the biology and ecology of P. scutigera in order to suggest ways of improving current control strategies. The approach I adopted was that advocated by Clark et al. (1967), whereby the life system of a pest is studied in an attempt to recognize key factors which control its abundance.