Overwinter survival and spring emergence patterns of the bollworm,Heliothis zea(Boddie), were studied in relation to several environmental variables at Dell (northeast) and Newport (north central), AR, during 1972–73 and 1973–74. High fall mortality was attributable to the rainfall and temperature patterns which immediately succeeded larval placement in the field. Effective water drainage was critical for successful overwinter survival. Rainfall, freezing soil temperatures, and duration of exposure (time) accounted for 89.8% of the variation in the overwinter survivorship curves for both locations combined. Time, soil temperatures ≥55°F (12.8°C), incident solar radiation, and rainfall accounted for 96.4% of the variation in the spring emergence patterns at Newport. Overwinter survival ranged from 0.0–5.8% and was higher in the lighter soil types than in clay soils. Percent moth emergence at Newport was ca. 15 times greater than at Dell, which partially explains the differences between the 2 locations in the summer bollworm population densities.