** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THIS IS A RESEARCH POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (A2701) PROPOSAL FROM KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (PD: DR. HANNAH QUELLHORST) THAT FITS INTO FAS PROGRAM AREA (A1112) PESTS AND BENEFICIAL SPECIES IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND AIMS TO IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE OF INVASION PATHWAYS BY KHAPRA BEETLE (KB) AND LARGER GRAIN BORER (LAGB) AND THEIR ASSOCIATED MICROBIAL COMMUNITY. KB IS RANKED AMONG THE TOP 100 WORST INVASIVE SPECIES, WHILE LAGB IS AN INVASIVE INSECT THAT INVADED AFRICA FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASING INTERCEPTIONS OF KB AT PORTS IN THE USA, AND LAGB IS AN ESCALATING THREAT UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE TO MAIZE PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN USA. INVASION PATHWAYS BY BOTH THESE SPECIES ARE COMPLEX AND/OR HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED WITH MODERN MOLECULAR METHODS. IN ADDITION, LITTLE OR NOTHING IS KNOWN ABOUT THE ASSOCIATED MICROBES THESE SPECIES VECTOR, YET THIS HAS CLEAR FOOD SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THAT COMPOUND THEIR BIOSECURITY CONCERN. STAKEHOLDERS REQUIRE IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW THESE SPECIES HAVE MOVED AMONG COUNTRIES, AND THEIR ASSOCIATED MICROBES. THEREFORE, I AIM TO DEVELOP THIS INFORMATION BY (1) DETERMINING THE GLOBAL INVASION PATHWAY OF LAGB AND KB USING HAPLOTYPE SEQUENCING NETWORKS, AND (2) ELUCIDATING THE WORLDWIDE ASSOCIATION OF FUNGI WITH LAGB AND KB. MY PROPOSAL EMPHASIZES INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO FOSTER INTERCULTURAL CAPACITY, WHILE PROTECTING THE US'S ROLE AS THE BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD.