Beneficial Insects

Blog Posts

bush honeysuckle with red berries
7 terms to know about invasive species (and some to avoid)
Effective communication in invasive species management relies on consistent and accurate terminology. Confusion is a problem when terms are not...
No Mow May. It’s almost May; is it time to stop mowing? Lawn mower in a yard with blooming dandelions
It’s almost May; is it time to stop mowing?
Did you notice people’s lawns getting a little long last May? No Mow May has become a popular way to help pollinators. No Mow May began in the...
A plant of many colors: Virginia bluebells. Purple and blue bluebell flowers.
A plant of many colors: Virginia bluebell
With the arrival of warmer weather in the spring, we start to see signs of new life in our landscapes. Birds begin singing, our landscapes start...
Periodical cicadas in Illinois in 2024. A black cicada with orange wings and red eyes rests on a green leaf
The cicadas are coming! Periodical cicadas in Illinois in 2024
Can you hear them? Probably not yet, but soon, Illinois will be awash in the songs of periodical cicadas. This year (2024) is a big year for...
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News Releases

bee in bee hotel
Check-in your bee hotel to support pollinator research
URBANA, Ill. — Bee hotels buzz with activity, but is it the right kind? A graduate student at University of Illinois is researching bees and needs help, in the form of donated used bee hotels, from the public to understand if these man-made nests are helping or harming bee populations in...
Can insects protect my garden ecosystem better than chemicals?
by Jan Phipps, Edgar County Master Gardener There are many beneficial insects in the garden that prey on other insects.  Several great names indicate their function: robber flies, ambush bugs, and assassin bugs.  The following are a few of the predatory insects with which you...
orange and black monarch butterfly sits on pink swamp milkweed flowers
Give monarch butterflies something to munch on, plant native milkweeds
URBANA, Ill. – Imagine eating only one type of food your entire life. Your survival depends entirely on being able to find this food. This is the challenge monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, face every day as landscapes change nationwide and fewer native plants are available. But home...
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Videos

Illinois Native Pollinators

When it comes to pollination, honey bees get a majority of the attention. However, many insects play a role in pollination. listen to University of Illinois Extension Educator Ken Johnson as he discusses native pollinators. Ken will discuss different native pollinators and how to make your...

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