Coordinate a project with the goal of developing sustainable pest management strategies for the western flower thrips (WFT) on tomatoes and peppers in diversified agroecosystems. A major focus will be to identify temporal habitats across farmscapes that serve as seasonal hosts of WFT, and to use this information to develop and test habitat-based preventive management tactics that reduce the risk of infestation in tomatoes and peppers. The project will require extensive sampling of thrips and natural enemies, and statistical analysis to quantify habitat suitability and understand interactions among thrips, natural enemies and host plant communities. Insecticide resistance among WFT populations from different agricultural production systems will also be assessed. The incumbent will be exp