2005 Annual Report 4d.Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and the University of Illinois to conduct research related to an Interagency Agreement (60-3625-4-0574) with the Environmental Protection Agency (National Risk Management Research Lab, Cincinnati, OH) and USDA-ARS. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 3625-22000-015-00D, Ecologically-Based Management of Selected Insects Associated with Corn. The purpose of this agreement is to contribute to a scientific information framework for managing insect resistance to transgenic plants. This information can provide enhanced support to the public in its deliberations about the use of transgenic plants. This will include an evaluation and integration of insect resistance models. Contributions also will be made by scientists from Brigham Young University, the University of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, the University of Arizona, and North Carolina State University. A second project meeting was held in Salt Lake City, in November 2004, in conjunction with the Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Participating modelers had developed mathematical simulations of insects developing resistance to transgenic crops based on the life cycle and behavioral characteristics of the insect pests that are unique to the growing conditions and cropping practices of the modeled region. In order to establish a set of specific procedures for comparing model results, meeting participants identified a limited set of models representing the range of pest, crop, and landscape scenarios where transgenic crops are used. Computer simulation models of insect resistance were obtained from Brigham Young University (North Carolina State), the University of Arizona, and the University of Illinois. These models represent regions of the U.S. where transgenic cotton and corn crops are widely used to control either moth or beetle pests. Landscape configurations for the distribution of transgenic crops were defined to minimize the behavioral and life-cycle differences of the pests as described in the models. These configurations are used as model inputs allowing comparison of output between agricultural and pest systems. All models are being run at the University of Illinois in collaboration with the original developer of each model. Model results from these simplified scenarios are being compared to theoretical expectations for the genetic change that occurs in an insect population when pest control practices are implemented. Evaluations are ongoing focusing on how insect behavioral differences affect the development of resistance and how landscape configurations can minimize the risk of insects developing resistance to transgenic crops.