Project Number: 6631-22000-003-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 31, 2003
End Date: Apr 30, 2008

Objective:
The goal of this project is to develop and conduct research that will mitigate the risk of exotic plant pest insects from being introducted into the U.S. Systems will be developed for integrated pest management of exotic pest insects from the Caribbean, Central and South America that pose a threat to U.S. agriculture.

Approach:
Research will consist of field and laboratory experiments to determine the life history, behavior and chemical ecology of insect pests and associated biocontrol agents that can be used in the development of control techniques. Strategies will include the development of new detection and delimitation tools, use of biosafe insecticides in discrete feeding stations, and discovery of components in the insect's biology that can be exploited for formation of control measures for exotic insect pests that affect plant production.