Primary Faculty: Kennedy, Meyer, Orr, Sorensen, Tarpy, Walgenbach

Research in horticultural crops entomology seeks to develop and lead the implementation of environmentally, economically and socially acceptable arthropod management programs on fruit and vegetable crops, including the management of bees. Currently, major emphasis is placed on management strategies for use in apples, peaches, blueberries, grapes, potatoes, tomatoes, and beekeeping. Basic research seeks to develop long term solutions to problems in the area of host plant resistance, plant/insect interactions, and insect population ecology and biology. Applied research emphasizes solving problems of immediate concern and focuses topics including insecticide resistance management, development of action and economic threshold levels, population monitoring and sampling, enhancement of biological control through conservation and manipulation of natural enemy populations, and the maintenance of pollinators.