COTMAN was used to measure the effects of bug-induced fruit loss on cotton growth and development. Two insect species (cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus, and western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus) were used to achieve insect-induced early fruit loss in two identical studies, comparing two irrigation methods. Different levels of pre-flower square loss were achieved by releasing laboratory reared nymphs three times at weekly intervals during the first three weeks of squaring. Four treatments were utilized for each insect species: 1) 0 bugs achieved through insecticide application (SC), 2) 0 bugs (naturally occurring background density, NC), 3) 1 bug per plant (1PP), and 4) 3 bugs per plant (3PP). Differences in plant growth and development can have a profound effect on the performance of fruit feeding herbivores. Regardless of the level of insect augmentation, furrow irrigated (low input treatment) cotton indicated significant stress with a right shift in the growth curve away from the target development curve resulting in low yield potential. Higher density bug augmentation resulted in higher percentage fruit loss, but the compensatory response of cotton was proportionately higher in the high input management scenario. This in turn resulted in delayed crop maturity. COTMAN was found to be a useful tool in evaluating the compensatory fruiting profile of cotton in two management scenarios.