The Entomology Research Laboratory represents a team of scientists committed to the development of effective biological control agents for forest, landscape, greenhouse and vegetable insect pest management.  Pest problems are addressed with an interdisciplinary approach, using insights drawn from senior scientists, the assistance of specialized technicians. Emphasis is placed on practical aspects of research to solve ‘real world’ problems.  Though focused on issues across the Northeast, our projects have national and international significance as well.  Through our work we attempt to develop management options that are environmentally sound, economically viable and sustainable, and encourage their implementation through extension and education.

We strongly believe in the value of cooperative research, and foster links with scientists and pest managers from a broad range of agencies and organizations; among them several State of Vermont agencies, University of California, Jeonbuk National University (Republic of Korea), Rothamsted Experimental Station (UK), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (Syria), Haifa University, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (Kenya) and Mycotech. Funding agencies include the State of Vermont, USDA (Hatch, Forest Service, Agriculture Research Service and SARE), US Agency of International Development (USAID), greenhouse and vegetable growers' associations, local, state, and national sugarmaker associations, and several private foundations. Strong links are maintained to ensure our research will produce practical solutions to real world pest problems.

Research on fungal pathogens and Integrated Pest Management 'IPM' strategies has been our major thrust for several years. Some of the projects that we investigate are designed to investigate fungal pathogens for the control of serious greenhouse pests such as western flower thrips, silverleaf whitefly and green peach aphid; a variety of important forest pests, including: pear thrips, gypsy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid; and agricultural pests like the western bean cutworm and brown marmorated stink bug.  We also specialize in using plant-mediated IPM systems that povide habitat to encourage the establishment of beneficial insects and sustain commercially produced parasitoids and predators. We are also the home of the North American Center for Saffron Research & Development.