The introduction and rapid spread of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), was a serious threat to cereal grain production in the western United States. The major impact of the aphid was felt in the semiarid hard red winter wheat producing areas, although it affected barley and other types of wheat significantly. The seriousness of this pest created a critical need for information to develop a management system that could manage this pest as economically as possible, particularly in the hard red winter wheat cropping system which has a very narrow profit margin. Technology transfer became very important to minimize unnecessary control costs and yield losses. A regional response in technology transfer was started with the actions of the Great Plains Agricultural Council in forming a Russian Wheat Aphid Investigative Committee and later a Task Force. This group brought Cooperative Extension personnel together to deal with the problem of this pest. Other regional activities such as the Western Regional Coordinating Committee on the Russian wheat aphid and the Russian Wheat Aphid News newsletter were the core of a major research and Cooperative Extension response to the aphid. In addition, all states affected were able to acquire and disseminate new information rapidly within the affected states. The result of this technology transfer was a rapid increase in awareness of the problem along with information on how to deal with this difficult problem. During the years since its appearance, the effectiveness of managing this insect has risen dramatically. Controls are now applied more judiciously and with fewer failures and yield losses. Wheat production in the area most severely impacted by the Russian wheat aphid is grown with very narrow profit margins. As a result, growers must minimize the cost of pest management practices. Russian wheat aphid management in the future will rely on an integrated approach based on resistant varieties, cultural practices, natural enemies, and likely very limited chemical control. This integrated system will require fewer monetary inputs but will require an increased input of information (i. e., technology transfer) which will be critical to its success.