Sterile Insect Technology is a critical component of an area-wide pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)) eradication program in the southwestern US (Texas and New Mexico) and northern Mexico (the Juarez region in Chihuahua). The program involves growers, state, federal and international cooperators, and was proposed by the National Cotton Council's Pink Bollworm Action Committee. The program uses a multi-pronged approach including cultural controls, pheromone applications and genetically modified cotton. Sterile insects were released over susceptible cotton fields for the entire growing season for the past two years. Populations of wild and sterile moths were monitored with pheromone baited traps and with rosetted-bloom and boll samples. The role and effects of releasing sterile moths is discussed.