Insects and pests

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How to grow and care for hollyhocks. Dark purple hollyhock flower
How to grow and care for hollyhocks
Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) have been growing in gardens for centuries and remind many of us of our parents’ or grandparents’ gardens. Despite...
comparison chart of Illinois
2022 Field crop disease, insect management report available
Every year, University of Illinois scientists conduct pest and disease surveys in corn and soybean crops across the state, along with in-field tests...
Ants on a Peony
How ants help peonies
In the plant world, insects can be considered either friend or foe based on their status as beneficial partners or pests.  We often think of...
Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators? Carpenter bee on a purple passion flower
Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators?
Bees are a welcome site in our gardens. Without the help of bees (and other pollinators) pollinating many of our plants, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy...
When should I clean up my garden? Picture of a garden with brown native bunch grasses and brown fallen tree leaves.
When should I start cleaning up my garden?
As the days get longer and the temperatures start to warm, we often get the itch to start gardening. On the first warm day of the year, I often find...
mourning cloak butterfly
The mourning cloak butterfly
A winter butterfly sighting We have had some warm weather this February, which means it is time to keep an eye out for butterflies! You may be...
Round leaves of nasturtium are a mound of growth with red flowers peaking out
Fortify the spring vegetable garden with marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums
In late spring, a gardener walks out to their vegetable garden ready to collect a harvest, only to discover shot holes through kale and bites taken...
Why are there bugs in my firewood? Identifying and managing firewood insects. A stack of firewood on the ground covered in a dusting of snow.
Why are there bugs in my firewood? Identifying and managing firewood insects
With the arrival of winter-like weather, many of us will be firing up the fireplace. When bringing wood inside for the fire, we can sometimes bring...

News Releases

close up of hand holding several small flat larvae of an emerald ash borer
Land-grant universities key in managing devastating Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that threatens to destroy North American ash trees following its accidental introduction from Asia in the 1990s. Since then, efforts have been underway to identify the most effective means of protecting ash trees from attack.   In recent...
Invasive Maackii fruit plant with text overlay reading Illinois Invasive Species Symposium
Symposium offers 9 sessions on understanding and controlling invasive species
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois is home to beautiful wild spaces, but invasive species are a growing threat in our forests, lakes, backyards, and agricultural fields. Invasive species pose a serious threat to native species and natural ecosystems and cost the country billions of dollars to combat....
a mosquito landing on someone to feed
How do you get rid of mosquitoes? Start at the source
URBANA, Ill. – It's mosquito season in Illinois, and there are a few things homeowners can do to keep their yard free of these water-breeding insects. Adult mosquitoes eat nectar, pollen, and honeydew (insect droppings full of sugar). Female mosquitoes need the protein in human blood to...

Videos

How to Identify and Monitor for Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard is a high-priority invasive plant that harms native forest ecosystems in Illinois. The first step to removing it is finding it. - Own a forest? Always keep an eye out for garlic mustard along creeks, forest edges, and trails. Identification: Garlic mustard grows over two years....

How to {revent and Remove Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard is a high-priority invasive plant that harms native forest ecosystems in Illinois. The key to keeping it from taking over your woodland is early detection and rapid response.

  • Prevent it from getting on your land. Clean shoes and tires when moving between properties...

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