The Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), was first found in the United States in Bailey County, TX in mid-March, 1986. The arrival of this pest jeopardized dryland wheat production in many western states and thus stimulated a widespread, coordinated response on the part of many research and extension entomologists, as well as numerous other agricultural scientists. Efforts to gather and share existing relevant information are described, as are the methods used to share new knowledge as it was generated by researchers in the U.S., Canada and several other countries. Early research focused on immediate producer concerns, but has evolved into longer term efforts in, among others, biological control and host plant resistance. The direct and indirect costs of the Russian wheat aphid to western United States small grains producers, totalling $893.1 million from 1987 to 1993, are summarized.