Search

Laboratory of Bryony Bonning

Showcase Item
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/dept/faculty/bonning/
Laboratory of Bryony Bonning
Insects pose a major threat to food production and to the health of plants, animals and humans as vectors of various disease agents. In the lab we examine the molecular interactions between viruses and insects, and between microbe-derived insect toxins and their receptors. Fundamental knowledge of these interactions is then used to optimize current insect pest management strategies and to develop novel environmentally benign solutions.

Aaron Gassmann Laboratory | Department of Entomology

Showcase Item
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/dept/faculty/gassmann/
Aaron Gassmann Laboratory | Department of Entomology
Commercial cultivation of Bt crops began in 1996 and has provided many benefits to farmers and the agricultural community including effective management of key pests and reduced use of conventional insecticides. In 2012, Bt crops covered over 69 million hectares (170 million acres) worldwide. Most of this area was planted to Bt corn and Bt cotton. In Iowa, over 75% of the corn planted in 2012 produced at least one Bt toxin. The widespread use of this technology places intense selection on pest populations to evolve Bt resistance.

Department of Entomology

Showcase Item
http://www.ent.iastate.edu
Department of Entomology
The ISU Entomology Department has a long history of responsiveness, excellence, training students for leadership roles and developing innovative and practical solutions to insect-based challenges in public health and agriculture. Entomologists at Iowa State University have engaged in teaching, research, and extension for more than a century. Professor Herbert Osborn taught the nation's first entomology course in 1880, beginning a tradition of excellence in basic and applied entomology.

Pollinator Working Group

Showcase Item
http://www.ent.iastate.edu/pollinators/
Pollinator Working Group
To help meet the challenge of protecting pollinators, several faculty and staff at Iowa State University (ISU) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship formed the Iowa Pollinator Conservation Working Group (IPCWG) in 2013. This group reflects a partnership with colleagues and stakeholders from across the state. Members include scientists and educators with a focus on pest management, and members studying novel ways to conserve pollinators and other insects within an agricultural landscape.