Studies also include plant taxonomy and the role of allelopathy and competition in the ecology of plant communities. Research includes insect-host interactions, host plant resistance, economic injury levels, and control techniques. Included are detection, survey, and mapping of important pests, pesticide applicator certification, development of expert systems and diagnostic pest identification. Strongly directed toward behavioral ecology and ethology of insects with particular reference to sexual selection, foraging strategies, habitat selection, and thermoregulation. Research also involves the investigation of biogeography to gain insights into evolutionary processes as well as the evolutionary history, and conservation biology of insects.
Research includes development of improved methods for cultural and host-plant management of pests.
The Department of Entomology has research and office space located in several buildings on campus. The Plant Growth Center is a 60,000 square foot facility providing research and teaching greenhouses, classrooms, and environmental chambers. Within this facility the department maintains a quarantine laboratory for the importation of biological control agents as well as other exotic insects. Proximity and common interests with the Departments of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Civil and Agricultural Engineering, Chemistry, Plant Pathology, and Biology provide access to a variety of specialized facilities. Within an hour's drive, field studies of insects can be conducted at altitudes ranging from 3,000 feet to 11,000 feet and on rangeland, forests, riparian areas, feedlots, cultivated lands.