Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory, Newark, Delaware

• Scope of work under Recovery Act

Amount: $470,000

Repair of critical deferred maintenance including replacing Annex Building HVAC system and components and provision of reliable back-up power source.

Milestones - To be updated as milestones are completed.

Construction Photos

Research at the Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory

Lab brochure

The Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory discovers insects and other biological control agents to control invasive insects and pests without the use of chemicals.

The lab checks to make sure that the biocontrol agent will only attack the targeted pest and that it is efficient at controlling that pest. Once established, these biocontrol agents are usually self-perpetuating and operate without further cost.

For example, the alfalfa weevil, once the most severe pest of alfalfa in the U.S., is now controlled in 20 Northeast states by several parasites introduced through the Beneficial Insects Research Laboratory, for yearly savings of $88 million in control costs. In addition, the alfalfa blotch leafminer is being controlled by parasites introduced from Europe soon after the pest spread outside its New England entry point, preventing yield losses worth $15 million per year.These savings contribute tot he reduced cost of livestock production, which helps keep down the cost of food in the United States for consumers.

Project Photographs Before Construction