Project Number: 6615-22430-002-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 23, 2005
End Date: Jun 22, 2010

Objective:
Elucidate the chemical mechanisms that govern insect behavior and the interactions of insects with other organisms in the environment so that new biologically rational, environmentally safe methods may be developed to manage insect pests.

Approach:
Identify and evaluate chemicals that regulate behaviors, including foraging, mating and oviposition of economically important beneficial and pests insects. Determine physiological and biochemical mechanisms, elicitors, and regulators involved in the interactions of plants with insect herbivores and their natural enemies. Determine endogenous and exogenous mechanisms that coordinate development of reproductive competence with sexual signaling in insects, including neurochemical regulation of pheromone byiosynthesis. The major target insects for this research will include fruit, vegetable, and field crop pests in the Lepidopteran families, Noctuidae, Pyralidae and Sphingidae as well as Tephritid fruit flies and selected Coleopteran species. Other target insects may be selected as needed as the project progresses.