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Home Page: http://www.wcrl.ars.usda.gov/

Mission:
The mission of the research management unit is to develop unique and improved ecological, biological, behavioral and genetic methods to reduce losses by cotton insects and mites. The goals are economically, socially and environmentally acceptable population suppression technology. Approaches may include the use of pheromones, behavioral chemicals, genetics and sterility, cultural practices, modeling and population dynamics research of pest and beneficial insects. Research is conducted onthe mode of action and role of semiochemicals, genetic approaches, genetic engineering, and cultural practices in basic biology, ecology, and population dynamics of cotton insect pests and beneficial species. Models are developed to identify information gaps that limit development of new and original insect population suppression and to describe and predict population trends. Cultural and non-chemical techniques focus on efficient and effective cotton pest management. Emphasis is on identification of weak links in the life cycles of key pests as focal points for control strategies. Major pests are the pink bollworm, Heliothis spp., and sweetpotato and silverleaf whiteflies.