Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** squash bugs damage cucurbit crops…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** squash bugs damage cucurbit crops through feeding activityand transmission of plant pathogens. To understand the biology of these pest insects we are investigating the interactions between squash bugs and their bacterial symbionts which are important for their growth, survival, and reproduction. We are using new combinations of methods including laboratory-controlled growth, advanced microscopy, and RNA sequencing to understand how squash bugs acquire new bacterial symbionts during their development into adults and how they make special pockets (crypts) within their digestive tracts to house these bacterial symbionts. We will also study the genetic underpinnings of how this relationship is established and the mechanisms behind the mutually beneficial cooperation between these insects and their symbiotic bacteria.