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
-
Monarch Butterflies – an Adaptable Species
Monarch butterflies face tough times but as monarch expert Karen Oberhauser discusses, these charismatic butterflies are an adaptable species, which offers hope for the future: https://therivardreport.com/experts-offer-caution-hope-for-monarch-butterflys-future/
-
Purple Carrot Seed Moth Arrives in Wisconsin
A surprising number of non-native, invasive insects show up in the country and state each year. In this recent article for Wiscontext, Extension entomologist PJ Liesch describes the newly arrived purple carrot seed moth, which may be coming for herbs like dill and fennel in your garden: https://www.wpr.org/wiscontext-purple-carrot-seed-moth-lands-wisconsin
-
Former Department Chair Wyman Passes Away
The UW Entomology Department is sad to announce the recent passing of friend and colleague, Dr. Jeff Wyman. Jeff was a long-time member of the department and served as department chair from 1984-1988. His research and Extension activities focused on vegetable crop entomology, and Jeff had a love for gardening, family, and friends. A memorial…
-
PJ Liesch Quoted in Article on Beekeeping and Pollinator Declines
With pollinators in decline, many folks are becoming interested in beekeeping as a hobby. PJ Liesch of the Insect Diagnostic Lab was quoted in this recent article about beekeeping and pollinator declines in the Stevens Point Journal: https://www.stevenspointjournal.com/story/news/2018/09/20/bees-stevens-point-sisters-request-may-prompt-city-ordinance/1062336002/
-
Cooler Temps in the Near Future Should Bring an End to Mosquito Season
While Wisconsin has seen a recent boom of mosquitoes, cooler temperatures in the near future should help bring an end to mosquito season according to Dr. Susan Paskwitz in this recent article: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/booming-mosquito-population-expected-to-disappear-soon/article_6996da32-e118-58a3-9703-497bce62b62a.html
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.