Insect Pests

Events

Gardener's Day 2025

March 15, 2025

County

Morgan

Ready.Set.Grow! Gardening Workshop

March 29, 2025

County

Lee

Carroll

Ogle

Whiteside

Insects and Diseases

April 8, 2025

County

Macon

Blog Posts

Managing western corn rootworm while maintaining Bt efficacy

February 12, 2025

The Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is often considered the most damaging pest to U.S. corn. While the adults can...

mealy bug infestation on a brussel sprout plant leaf

2024 Recap: Common pest concerns and how to control them in 2025

January 13, 2025

Did you have a pest issue in 2024 and did not know how to treat it? Insect pests can cause cosmetic challenges, disease concerns, and edibility...

Winter insect pest control

November 27, 2024

As winter is upon us, there are things that growers can do to deal with winter pests. Of course, this is particularly important in winter production...

Why insects resist: The underlying mechanisms of insecticide resistance

November 25, 2024

Here at the Pesticide Safety Education Program, we discuss pesticide resistance topics, such as rotating pesticide chemistries, utilizing thresholds...

More Blogs

News Releases

A green plant with tiny white flowers growing in the ground.

October 14, 2024

The quest of growing wonderberries
URBANA, Ill. — The quest for a new item to add to the garden this past winter led one horticulture educator, Christina Lueking, to grow a summertime berry that might fill a gap after the strawberry harvest fizzled, and before the raspberries matured. An interesting packet of seeds for a plant...

Up close view of a brown marmorated stink bug on a green leaf.

July 16, 2024

New online agriculture course grows skills in identifying corn, soybean field insects
URBANA, Ill. — One thing is for sure, if there is a farm field, insects will visit it. Having the skills to identify insects inhabiting crop fields across the Midwest improves one’s ability to identify and effectively manage insect pests while avoiding unnecessary interventions that may...

an adult emerald ash borer, a small metallic green beetle perched on a hand

June 18, 2024

Emerald ash borer continues spread through Illinois; Extension can help manage
URBANA, Ill. — While much of Illinois has been focused on the emergence of periodical cicadas in the summer of 2024, another insect is buzzing about that is more than a nuisance; it’s a threat to ash trees everywhere. In June, the...

Vanilla ice cream sundae topped with strawberries, chocolate syrup, and crushed cicadas.

June 5, 2024

Consider adding periodical cicadas to summer list of favorite ice cream toppings
URBANA, Ill. — “That’s surprisingly delicious!” This is maybe not the phrase first expected to be heard when trying a once-in-a-lifetime lunch menu of cicada pesto pizza, cicada tempura bites with lime aioli, and, for dessert, cicada ice cream sundaes.This spring, a team of...

More News

Videos

All About Bed Bugs

The resurgence of bed bugs are making headlines globally. Join Good Growing as they delve into the pressing issue of bed bugs seemingly spiraling out of control. Are these tiny pests staging a global takeover once again? Our special guest, entomologist Dr. Kacie Athey, joins the conversation to...