Controlled environment chambers for rearing insects

疾病对一些自然昆虫种群有影响，如在种群密度高峰时发生病毒性疾病的西部帐篷毛虫。昆虫疾病也被发展为微生物害虫控制，其中最广泛使用的是细菌苏云金芽孢杆菌（Bt）。在田间，疾病流行持续时间较短，种群选择随着密度的下降而放松。在采用微生物控制的农业情况下，强选择可导致耐药性的产生。我们的研究旨在确定抗性的遗传和生理基础，我们已经在卷心菜环虫种群中发现了抗性，环虫是温室种植蔬菜的主要害虫。此外，我们正在探索使昆虫能够克服野外感染的免疫反应。

Diseases have impacts on some natural insect populations such as western tent caterpillars that experience epizootics of viral disease at peak population densities. Insect diseases have also been developed as microbial pest controls and the most widely used of these is the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). In the field, disease epizootics persist for a short time and selection on populations is relaxed as densities decline In agricultural situations, where microbial control is used, strong selection can result in the development of resistance. Our research has been directed at determining the genetic and physiological basis of resistance that we have found in populations of cabbage loopers, major pests of green house grown vegetables. In addition we are exploring the immune responses that allow insects to potentially overcome infection in the field.