The objectives of this study were: (i) To study the population dynamics of Heliothis on the Darling Downs and to quantify the significance of the major controlling influences (predators, parasites pathogens, weather and host plant quality) on population changes within the species, and, (ii) To assess the potential for an area-wide management approach to the suppression of Heliothis populations through the identification of ecological bottlenecks and the practical manipulation of the controlling factors.