Mission:
The mission of the Pest Management and Biocontrol Research unit is to develop unique and improved biological, behavioral, cultural, and genetic based methods to reduce losses by insects and mites affecting crops in arid land production areas of the U.S. The goals are economically, socially and environmentally acceptable pest population suppression technologies based on the use of behavioral chemicals, genetics, cultural practices, biological control, sampling and decision aids, modeling and population dynamics of pests and their natural enemies. Emphasis is placed on development of fully integrated, ecologically-based management strategies in a changing agricultural environment that includes recognition of the agriculture-urban interface.