Nocturnal observation and collection of wolf spiders in cotton in the Delta region of Mississippi indicates that Coleoptera and Diptera are important prey.Lycosa antelucanaMontgomery represented 75.1% of the lycosid spiders observed and 89.6% of those with prey in cotton fields. Among prey taken were the cotton insect pestsHeliothis virescens(F.) andLygus lineolaris(Palisot de Beauvois).Pardosa milvina(Hentz) represented 24% of the total sample and 8.5% of those spiders observed with prey. A third lycosid species,Lycosa helluo(Hentz), captured the remaining 1.8% of the prey taken but was rarely observed (<1% of all lycosid spiders). Prey selection and temporal activity levels showed a distinct separation by species, and by developmental stage forL. antelucana. A larger proportion ofP. milvinathanL. antelucanawas observed on cotton plants (26% versus4%) in or near dens or retreats.