Insect Pests

Kissing bugs are present in Illinois, but the risk of contracting a disease from them is low. While Chagas disease has been confirmed in animals, there have been no cases of humans acquiring Chagas disease while in Illinois (as of September 2025).  When you hear the...

There are many ways we mark the 'end of summer'. Some refer to the beginning of school or the closing of the pool, while others view Labor Day as the 'unofficial end of summer'. Another way, if you're more entomologically inclined, is the appearance of fall webworm.Fall webworm (Hyphantria...

If you take some time to look closely at a plant, chances are you’ll see a variety of different insects. Take sunflowers, for example: many different pollinators can be seen visiting the flowers, from bees and wasps to beetles, butterflies, and flies. Other insects can be found feeding on the plant...

If you spend enough time looking at and working with plants, you'll inevitably come across galls. Galls are abnormal growths and can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including insects (like aphids, flies, wasps) and mites, and occasionally nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. Galls can be...

Columbines are popular garden plants. They can be found in a variety of colors, ranging from red, pink, yellow, white, purple, and blue, and they can help fill the gap between early spring blooming plants like tulips and daffodils and the summer blooming plants that dominate our landscapes....

As we creep toward spring, many gardeners begin to get the urge to get out in the garden. Seed starting and garden planning activities are well underway. One gardening technique that many gardeners incorporate into their gardens is companion planting. What is companion planting...

If there is one certainty for all humans is that we are drawn to natural elements. Two of the best examples are how we can become transfixed when looking at fire or water. Scientists have studied this effect and shown that our brains reduce stress chemicals when we are staring at a fire, water, or...

As the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler, many species of insects will search for places to spend the winter. Depending on the insect, they may seek out a variety of locations, such as in soil, under leaf litter, under tree bark, or even in our homes. One that we commonly...

Despite the bad name they get, yellowjackets (Vespula spp.) are beneficial insects. The larvae are meat eaters, consuming caterpillars and other insects (and occasionally carrion) that adults have captured and brought back to the nest. Adults, on the other hand, primarily feed on flower...

Finding interesting insects is fun! At least for me. I enjoy observing the intricacies of most insects. However, there are a few creepy crawlies I do not want to see, especially in my house. What insect has been on my “Most Un-Wanted” list? Termites. When we bought our house a few years ago we...