Talstar (bifenthrin) was registered at the beginning of the 1993/94 season for control of Helicoverpa spp. and two-spotted mite in Australian cotton. Resistance to this compound in two-spotted mite was monitored following registration. Incipient Talstar resistance was detected in one strain of two-spotted mite during the 1996/97 cotton season. Resistance increased progressively both in level and abundance over the following two seasons. Resistance in two-spotted mite has now reduced the reliability of Talstar for two-spotted mite control in Australian cotton.