Dr. Luttrell’s research emphasizes the management of insect pests of field crops, especially those attacking cotton, corn, and soybean. He has previously researched insect pests of pecan and is currently working on pest problems of sweetpotato in the Mississippi Delta. Previous and current studies attempt to optimize crop protection through efficient use of insecticides and quantitative decision making based on an ecological understanding of pest biology and crop susceptibility to herbivory. Research projects have included studies on insect resistance to insecticides and BT transgenes, crop response to insect injury, farm--level management systems, microbial control and application technology.