I oversee research related to the management of insect pests of annual crops, with a focus on soybeans. My overall goal is the development of pest management programs that are economically and environmentally sustainable. To achieve this goal, I explore the ecology of pests with their host-plant and natural enemies, often within a landscape context. This research has contributed to the management of soybean aphids in Iowa and throughout the Midwest US. More recently, my lab is exploring how conservation methods may improve the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects that contribute to aphid mortality and crop pollination.