Orchid bees
Tribe Euglossini
Photo: Tony Shen
Burying beetle
Nicrophorus orbicollis
Photo: Tony Shen
Stingless bees
Tetragonisca angustula
Photo: Tony Shen
Giant mayfly
Hexagenia limbata
Photo: Tony Shen
Rusty patched bumble bee
Bombus affinis
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
Goldenrod soldier beetle
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
Photo: Tony Shen
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Photo: Ben Bradford
Common blue damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
Valley carpenter bee
Xylocopa sonorina
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
Spongy moth
Lymantria dispar
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
Photo: Ben Bradford
Mining bee
Andrena sp.
Photo: Ben Bradford
Squash vine borer
Melittia cucurbitae
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
Bumblebee mimic robber fly
Laphria thoracica
Photo: Jeremy Hemberger
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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Backyard Mosquito Treatments Can Impact Other Insects
With insects in decline, it’s important to keep our everyday actions in mind. Dr. Karen Oberhauser discusses how backyard mosquito treatments can have impacts on other insects, including fireflies: https://madison.com/wsj/opinion/column/karen-oberhauser-to-spray-or-not-to-spray-controlling-mosquitoes/article_f862878c-b508-5292-8b83-6dce84cedad4.html
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Winter Survival of Insects
Extension entomologist PJ Liesch discusses winter survival of insects and why this year’s polar vortex might not have much of an impact on insects in this column for Wiscontext: https://www.wiscontext.org/even-polar-vortex-no-match-insects-adapted-cold-conditions
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Dr. Susan Paskewitz Will Lecture on Ticks and Their Role in Lyme Disease at the UW-Platteville Baraboo/Sauk County
Dr. Susan Paskewitz will be giving a lecture on ticks and their role in Lyme disease at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo/Sauk County campus on Thursday, 3/14 [details for the event can be found here]
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Butterflies are Charismatic Insects Humans Readily Connect With
Butterflies are charismatic insects that humans readily connect with according to Karen Oberhauser. Unfortunately, butterflies also face significant declines as described in this article from the Washington Post.
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Cold Weather Won’t Mean Fewer Bugs This Summer
Despite the brutally cold polar vortex last month, many of Wisconsin’s insects are well-adapted to the cold and we’ll still see plenty of insects this summer, says Extension entomologist PJ Liesch in this article for Madison’s Channel 3000: https://www.channel3000.com/news/bug-off-cold-weather-won-t-mean-fewer-bugs-this-summer-experts-warn/1044823901
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.