Orchid bees
Tribe Euglossini
Burying beetle
Nicrophorus orbicollis
Stingless bees
Tetragonisca angustula
Giant mayfly
Hexagenia limbata
Rusty patched bumble bee
Bombus affinis
Goldenrod soldier beetle
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Common blue damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Valley carpenter bee
Xylocopa sonorina
Spongy moth
Lymantria dispar
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
Mining bee
Andrena sp.
Squash vine borer
Melittia cucurbitae
Bumblebee mimic robber fly
Laphria thoracica
Welcome to the Department of Entomology!
The Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison is a world-class graduate training and research institution committed to advancing research in insect biology in both basic and applied contexts. We offer MS and Ph.D. degrees in Entomology and two undergraduate majors (Entomology & Global Health). Our faculty and staff members along with our graduate students, postdoctoral associates, affiliated and emeritus professors offer a dynamic and interdisciplinary research and teaching environment to prepare students for a future in entomology.
The Department is housed in Russell Laboratories and makes extensive use of campus greenhouse facilities and the agricultural research stations located throughout the state for research, outreach and educational purposes. Russell Labs houses three departments: Entomology, Forest and Wildlife Ecology, and Plant Pathology. The building is centrally located on the UW-Madison campus making it ideal for collaborative work with other departments.
Values such as inclusion, integrity, community, and respect are an integral part of department culture and official code of conduct.
Quick Links
Department News
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Fighting Back Against the Emerald Ash Borer
The invasive emerald ash borer is a highly destructive insect, yet homeowners, arborists, and city foresters do have ways of fighting back according to entomologist PJ Liesch: https://www.wiscnews.com/portagedailyregister/news/local/homeowners-have-options-to-treat-ash-trees-as-borer-infestation/article_ed6bb43c-32be-58d4-a3fe-18eec9e22f84.html
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The “Buzz” on Yellowjackets
Backyard barbeques often bring uninvited guests, such as scavenging yellowjackets. Extension entomologist PJ Liesch describes the “buzz” on these insects on WPR’s Central Time: https://www.wpr.org/whats-buzz-all-yellow-jackets
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Wisconsin Insect Fest—A Celebration of Insects
Time to celebrate all things insects! PJ Liesch was recently a featured guest on Wisconsin Public Radio to discuss the first ever Wisconsin Insect Fest event being held at the UW-Madison Kemp Natural Resources Station July 26th and 27th: https://www.wpr.org/worth-bugging-out-about-wisconsin-insect-fest-aims-celebrate-insects
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A New Repellent from…Bacteria
Bacteria living in worms—more specifically nematodes—may act as a natural repellent against mosquitoes based on exciting research out of the Paskewitz lab. Additional research is needed, but in initial studies, the tested bacterial extract was as effective as repellents such as DEET when used at lower doses: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/health-med-fit/mosquito-repellent-could-use-bacteria-not-chemicals-uw-madison-researchers/article_45e98ae2-6412-537a-a41a-0a456503dcb1.html
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Rare Tick in Eau Claire
A rare tick for Wisconsin was recently spotted in northern Wisconsin. Dr. Susan Paskewitz describes how this lone star tick likely hitched a ride on a bird or other animal to make it to the Eau Claire area: https://www.foxnews.com/health/lone-star-tick-wisconsin-red-meat-allergy
Meaningful Research
Advancing research in insect biology in both basic and applied contexts.
Top-notch Instruction
Interdisciplinary instruction to inform students, collaborators, and the community.
Far-reaching Impact
Embodying the Wisconsin Idea, making the boundaries of our work the boundaries of the Wisconsin and beyond.
Vision
We focus on high-impact science that leverages our collective expertise on arthropod biology to solve problems in agriculture, the environment, and human health.