Rationale: In 2011, Wisconsin farmers grew 25.5 thousand hectares of cultivated potato worth an estimated 267 million dollars. Since 1995, systemic neonicotinoids have been used on approximately 85% of these acres to manage the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) and other key pests. As a result of long-term reliance, neonicotinoid resistance in Colorado potato beetle has become common. In the spring of 2008 and 2009, growers reported changes in the colonization timing of Colorado potato beetle. Specifically, it was suggested that beetles were either extending or delaying their arrival times in commercial fields. Observed changes in beetle ecology typically occurred where neonicotinoid resistance had previously been documented in past seasons and may be an indication of an evolving relationship between insecticide resistance and changes in diapause patterns. A long colonization period resulted in the presence of several life stages of this insect in the crop simultaneously. Where protracted or delayed emergence occurred, many growers chose to manage these multiple life stages with high-risk, foliar applications. With increasing input costs growers may avoid proactive resistance management strategies, continuing to use generic neonicotinoid compounds paired with inexpensive, high risk foliar insecticide applications to manage resistant populations and maintain profit margins. Project Goal: To better understand the relationship between neonicotinoid use, Colorado potato beetle resistance, and environmental fate of neonicotinoids in the Central Sands agroecosystem. Objectives: I) To define the influence of previous (year) potato fields and adjacent diapause habitats on field scale Colorado potato beetle abundance. II) To use a common garden dormancy experiment to examine relationships between insecticide resistance, overwintering emergence phenology, and beetle fitness in field collected beetle populations. III) To document in-plant concentration and environmental fate of neonicotinoid insecticides when systemically applied in potato. Impact and Outcomes: An improved understanding of insecticide application methods and their effects on insect resistance management, insect ecology, and the surrounding environment will improve the long-term viability of systemic insecticides, which have become a keystone in our management program. Deliverable outcomes will inform sustainable, environmentally sound management plans for potato production systems and other specialty crops where systemic applications are commonplace.