Corn is the #1 staple crop worldwide, whose production can be often threaten by pathogen and insect pests. Insect pests not only cause a direct damage by feeding, but also may vector important pathogens such as plant viruses, and mollicute bacterial pathogens (phytoplasmas, spiroplasmas). At the same time, insects have viruseses too, and these insect viruses may have an effect in the insect biology and a potential role in plant pathogen transmission. Our lab is studying the prevalence of the aforementioned plant and insect microorganisms, and their interactions, and how we can use this fundamental information for implementing innovative integrated pest management strategies of the insect pest and/or the plant pathogen.