Department News
Insect Fest 2023 a ‘big hit’
Last month’s Wisconsin Insect Fest at Upham Woods was a hit with insect enthusiasts of all ages. The UW-Entomology event ...
Take a virtual tour of the Wisconsin Insect Research Collection
Representing specimens collected by professional entomologists and citizen scientists over the past 170 years, the Wisconsin Insect Research Collection (WIRC) ...
Asiatic garden beetle: a new pest to have on your radar
There’s a new insect pest to have on your radar in Wisconsin—the Asiatic garden beetle (Maladera formosae; formerly Maladera castanea) ...
Donation to CALS helps fund two Nelson-affiliated projects
Recently, a multimillion dollar donation was made to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) from Kikkoman Foods, Inc., ...
Global Health major celebrates second graduating class
The new Global Health undergraduate major celebrated its 2023 class with an event hosted by Dr. Susan Paskewitz, Dr. Patrick ...
Congratulations 2023 Graduates!
The Entomology Department is delighted to mint four new excellent PhDs this spring with the graduation of Kristina Lopez (Paskewitz ...
CALS spotlights UW Entomology alum Lee Clippard’s work on wildflower conservation in Texas
Entomology alum Lee Clippard, MS '02, spoke with CALS for the latest edition of Grow Magazine about his work on ...
PJ Liesch talks to the Badger Herald about his work as the Wisconsin Bug Guy
PJ Liesch, Director of the Insect Diagnostic Lab and colloquially known as "The Wisconsin Bug Guy", was recently interviewed by ...
Entomology Digest – Spring 2023
Letter from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, On Saturday, April 15 our Undergraduate Entomology Society together ...
2023 Wisconsin Insect Fest coming Saturday, August 19th to Upham Woods
Mark your calendars! The 2023 Wisconsin Insect Fest event is being planned as a one-day afternoon/evening event on Saturday August ...
New paper co-authored by Sean Schoville explores the genetic history of a rare color morph of Colias butterflies
A new paper recently published in Scientific Advances explores the genetic history of a rare color morph of Colias butterflies ...
PJ Liesch recognized as Best Communicator by the Agriculture Institute
PJ Liesch, extension entomologist and director of the insect diagnostic lab, received Best Communicator in the 2023 UW-Madison Agriculture Institute ...
Scott Chapman, Dan Heider receive national IR-4 awards
Scott Chapman, a scientist in the Department of Entomology, and Dan Heider, a research program coordinator in the Department of ...
Swarm To Table food and insect celebration returns April 15, 2023
Single Mow of Park Trails Not Enough to Reduce Ticks
Dr. Xia Lee, public health entomologist in the Vectorborne, Respiratory, and Invasive Diseases Unit at the Wisconsin Department of Health ...
Russ Groves and Shawn Steffan feature in latest issue of CALS Grow Magazine
The Fall 2022 issue of Grow Magazine, published by the UW College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is out and ...
Entomology Digest – Fall 2022
Christelle Guédot receives NIFA SCRI funding for insect mating disruption project
Christelle Guédot, associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology, recently received $49,979 in funding for a project ...
Professor Rick Lindroth to retire after 37 years
A special congratulations is also due to our friend and colleague, Dr. Richard (Rick) Lindroth who will be retiring from ...
Gigi La Budde hosts the Undergraduate Entomology Society in Spring Green
PhD student Kristina Lopez wins award for Best Student Presentation at Society of Vector Ecology meeting
Kristina Lopez, a PhD student in Entomology advised by Dr. Susan Paskewitz, was awarded the 2022 Dan Strickman Memorial Award ...
Kemp Station: A hidden gem of scientific research
Julia Wiessing, a UW undergraduate majoring in Entomology, recently published the following piece about Kemp Station in The Daily Cardinal ...
UW–Madison earns Bee Campus USA certification
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has earned the Bee Campus USA Certification, making it one of 140 Bee Campus Affiliates nationwide. Bee ...
Dr. Claudio Gratton elected Fellow of the Entomological Society of America
The Department of Entomology is excited to announce the election of Professor Claudio Gratton as a Fellow of the Entomological ...
Welcome new graduate students!
The Department of Entomology is excited to welcome our excellent new class of graduate students for Fall 2022! They have ...
Wisconsin Insect Fest Returns!
After a two-year hiatus, Wisconsin Insect Fest returns! WIF was held at the Kemp Natural Resources Station near Minocqua, WI ...
2022 Wisconsin Insect Fest
Paper by Sean Schoville wins recognition by the Royal Entomological Society
The Royal Entomological Society recently announced the winners of their "best paper" awards for papers published in their journals between ...
2022 Undergraduate Academic Award Recipients
The Department of Entomology would like to recognize undergraduate students Emelia Rogers, Madalyn Laskowski, and Melissa Langkilde for receiving 2022-2023 ...
CDC renews funding for the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that funding for the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Disease ...
Entomology Digest – Summer 2022
Letter from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, “New faces and Congratulations” We are fortunate to welcome ...
Land Acknowledgement Workshop & Resources
This series was hosted by the Entomology and Horticulture DEI committees, represented by Hanna McIntosh, Amaya Atucha, Beth Workmaster, Christelle ...
Congratulations to Entomology’s 2022 PhD Graduates!
The Entomology Department proudly recognizes two newly minted graduates, Dr. Erin Lowe and Dr. Yi-Ming Weng! Dr. Erin Lowe A ...
Congratulations to the inaugural Global Health graduating class!
On Friday, May 13, we celebrated the graduation of our first cohort of Global Health majors (n=37) with families and ...
Entomology undergraduates showcase their research
On May 3rd, 2022, Introductory Biology 152 students including several who worked with labs in the Department of Entomology presented ...
Swarm To Table brings edible insects to the Madison community
For information on the 2023 event to be held April 15, click here. On Saturday, April 2nd, 2022, the Undergraduate ...
Professor Rick Lindroth discusses faith, hope, and climate change with the Washington Post
To fight climate despair, science isn’t enough. Rick Lindroth is among a small but growing number who argue faith is ...
Christelle Guédot receives the Louise Hemstead Leadership Award
Christelle Guédot, associate professor and extension specialist in the Department, was recently selected to receive the 2022 Louise Hemstead Leadership ...
‘Super pest’ Colorado potato beetle has the genetic resources to sidestep our attacks
The Colorado potato beetle has evolved resistance to more than 50 different kinds of insecticides, making the insect a “super ...
Entomology Digest – Spring 2022
Letter from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, “A return to normal?” We are fortunate to be ...
Entomology Digest – Fall 2021
Claudio Gratton receives Kellett Mid-Career Award
Claudio Gratton, professor in the Department of Entomology, was recently awarded the Kellett Mid-Career Award. Read the original story ...
Entomology Digest – May 2021
Taylor Tai Receives Graduate Student Service Scholarship
Congratulations to Taylor Tai (PhD Candidate in the Gratton Lab), who has been included among the recipients of the 2021 ...
Butterflies Make Great Pollinators
Bees are often synonymous with pollination, but other insect groups have started to receive more attention for their pollination services ...
Celebrating Black Entomologists
The Insect Ambassadors recently put together a video for Black History Month celebrating the contributions of renowned Black Entomologists to ...
Entomology Digest – February 2021
Message from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, “It’s a Virtual World” The UW-Madison continues to monitor ...
Entomology Digest – November 2020
Message from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, “Tell me the Good News First” In my first ...
Changing of the Guard
July 1st marks the changing of the guard. Thank you Dr. Susan Paskewitz for your service to the department. Dr ...
Take Kids on a Backyard Safari
PJ Liesch was quoted in National Geographic magazine via MSN: “Spending time in nature and specifically looking for insects or ...
Download the Tick App and Help Researchers Track Ticks
A free citizen science opportunity from the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Diseases is available now: The Tick App ...
UW Entomology Alum Receives Killam Annual Professorship at University of Alberta
UW Entomology alum Nadir Erbilgin (Ph.D. 2001) received the University of Alberta Killam Annual Professorship. This award is granted to ...
Asian Giant Hornet Not an Immediate Threat to Wisconsin
The news has been filled with reports about the Asian giant hornet recently, but Extension entomologist PJ Liesch recently spoke ...
Michael Howe Receives 2020 Memorial Scholarship
Ph.D. candidate Mike Howe was recently awarded the 2020 Memorial Scholarship from the Western Forest Insect Work Conference. The scholarship ...
Rick Lindroth Among 2020 Hilldale Award Honorees
Each year, the Secretary of the Faculty recognizes four professors from the University of Wisconsin–Madison for distinguished contributions to research, ...
Can Mosquitoes Spread Coronavirus?
The novel coronavirus is catching our attention in the news and many have wondered if mosquitoes might be able to ...
Bumble Bees and Climate Chaos
Bumble bees face perilous times due to changing climate, land-use changes, and other factors. Dr. Claudio Gratton was featured in ...
Controlling Crop Pests with RNA
New pest control technologies, including RNA-based products, offer novel ways of targeting important crop pests while reducing conventional pesticide inputs. ...
Taking Ticks Seriously
Deer ticks pose significant health risks to Wisconsin residents and Governor Tony Evers recently signed a bill requiring the DNR ...
Beetles Suspected in Horse Deaths
Extension entomologist PJ Liesch was recently interviewed by both the Wisconsin State Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the ...
Can Monarchs Change with the Climate?
Monarch expert Dr. Karen Oberhauser was recently featured in the Washington Post regarding monarch butterflies and the challenges they face ...
The Color of Butterfly Wings
Dr. Sean Schoville and graduate student Khuram Zaman were recently featured in Molecular Ecology Spotlight. Zaman and Schoville have been ...
Bugs and Suds: Liesch to Talk Insects at Science on Tap Event
Extension entomologist PJ Liesch will be discussing insects at the Science on Tap Event in Minocqua on Wednesday, December 4th. ...
UW Students Take 2nd Place at ESA Linnaean Games
Every year, teams of entomology students from around the country face off at the Linnaean Games—a head-to-head entomology-themed trivia competition ...
Early Cold Snap Doesn’t Faze Ticks
Despite the early snow around Halloween and unseasonably cold temperatures, ticks can still be encountered. Tick levels seem to be ...
Welcome Dr. Amy Trowbridge!
The entomology department is excited to announce our new forest entomologist, Dr. Amy Trowbridge. Amy’s research focuses on how climate ...
Monarchs on the Move
Monarchs are on the move one their 2000+ mile trip to their overwintering ground in Mexico. Monarch expert, Dr. karen ...
Bees Need Meat
It seems intuitive that bees herbivores that eat pollen and nectar. Fascinating research by Dr. Prarthana Dharampal and Dr. Shawn ...
The Secret Lives of Mice and Ticks
Mice play an important role with ticks such as deer ticks, but until now some of the basic nesting habits ...
Undergraduate Researcher an Insect Sleuth
Dr. Sean Schoville and undergraduate student Mary Magnuson were recently featured in Agri-view for their work on the Colorado Potato Beetle ...
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 ...
The “Buzz” on Yellowjackets
Backyard barbeques often bring uninvited guests, such as scavenging yellowjackets. Extension entomologist PJ Liesch describes the “buzz” on these insects ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Rearing Monarchs Might Not be Such a Good Thing
In an interesting twist, a recent study found that monarch butterflies raised in captivity may struggle to navigate properly during ...
Good News for Monarchs
There’s good news for monarchs according to Extension entomologist PJ Liesch in this interview with the Wisconsin State Farmer. Last ...
Tracking Ticks with The Tick App
The Tick App smartphone app from the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector Borne Disease is looking to gain a better ...
Look out for slugs and cutworms in field crops!
Field crop entomologist Bryan Jensen has been urging farmers to keep a close eye on their fields for damage as ...
Insect Trends Change Over the Years
Insect populations change over time, and retired Extension entomologist Phil Pellitteri recently spoke in Wausau to describe insect trends over ...
“Swarm to Table” Edible Insects Event Series
While entomophagy, or the eating of insects, may seem taboo in the US, insects are widely used around the globe ...
Bed Bugs Return
Bed bugs are back on the scene and can show up wherever humans move them according to Extension entomologist PJ ...
Dr. Paskewitz Goes to Washington
Dr. Susan Paskewitz recently traveled to Washington DC to meet with federal officials and speak out on behalf of the University ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Monarch Butterfly Challenges
Monarch butterflies face tough challenges, yet a recent overwintering survey found a strong increase in monarch numbers in Mexico. Dr ...
Top 10 Insect Trends for 2018
Each year tells a different insect story and last year didn’t disappoint. PJ Liesch of the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab ...
Yosemite Butterflies — An interactive, Digital Field Guide to the Park’s 98 Butterfly Species
Dr. Sean Schoville and Jacki Whisenant recently released Yosemite Butterflies—an interactive, digital field guide to the park’s 98 butterfly species. The app ...
Did the Arctic Blast Take Out All the Insects?
Did the arctic blast take out all the insects?—Not so fast, says PJ Liesch of the UW Insect Diagnostic Lab. ...
Mosquito Repellent Made from Bacteria in Worms
Research in the Paskewitz lab by Mayur Kajla and colleagues has recently identified a novel mosquito repellent from bacteria. Susan ...
The Precarious Status of the Monarch Population in the western U.S.
Department alumna (Gratton Lab) and current Xerces Society Conservation Biologist, Emma Pelton, was recently interviewed by the new York Times ...
The Rise of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The invasive brown marmorated stink bug has become common in some parts of Wisconsin. Extension entomologist, PJ Liesch, discussed the ...
Many Factors Affect Monarch Butterflies
Dr. Karen Oberhauser discusses the many factors affecting monarch butterflies in this recent article from National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/12/monarch-butterflies-risk-extinction-climate-change/ ...
Waunakee Passes Resolution to Help Monarch Butterflies
The Village of Waunakee, Wisconsin has passed a resolution to join the effort to help increase resources for monarch butterflies. ...
The Spread of the Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Since its arrival in the state in 2010, the invasive brown marmorated stink bug has spread to over 25 counties. ...
Dr. Ken Raffa Received the Entomological Society of America’s Plant-Insect Ecosystems Lifetime Achievement Award in Entomology
Congratulations to Dr. Ken Raffa, who recently received the Entomological Society of America’s Plant-Insect Ecosystems Lifetime Achievement Award in Entomology: https://ecals.cals.wisc.edu/2018/11/19/kenneth-raffa-receives-2018-esa-plant-insect-ecosystems-lifetime-achievement-award-in-entomology/?utm_source=ecals_email_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ecals_email_newsletter ...
Historic Flooding Leads to Unprecedented Late Season Mosquito Pressure
Wisconsin saw historic flooding events in late summer, which lead to unprecedented late season mosquito pressure in much of the ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Recent Heavy Rains Result in Explosion of “Floodwater” Mosquitoes
Recent heavy rains have resulted in an explosion of “floodwater” mosquitoes in many parts of Wisconsin, as Mosquito expert Susan ...
Tiny Chinch Bug Played a Role in Wisconsin’s Journey to Become the Dairy State
While Wisconsin is known as “America’s Dairyland”, that wasn’t always the case. Insect Diagnostician, PJ Liesch, recently published an article ...
Entomology Department Projects at the UW Arboretum
The University of Wisconsin Arboretum has a strong legacy of research, including many projects conducted by past and present members ...
Grad Student Audrey Simard’s Research on Guttation Fluid and Potential Impacts on Pollinators Featured in The Country Today
Graduate student Audrey Simard’s research on gutstion fluid and the potential impacts on pollinators was recently featured in this article ...
Armyworms Popping Up in Damaging Numbers in Crop Fields Around Wisconsin
In a surprise for the state’s farmers, armyworms have been popping up in damaging numbers in crop fields around Wisconsin ...
Northern Black Widow Rarely Encountered in Wisconsin
The Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus) is a rarely encountered spider in Wisconsin according to extension entomologist PJ Liesch in ...
The Tick App Launched
Researchers at UW-Madison have teamed up with colleagues at Columbia University to create and launch The Tick App to collect data on ...
Ticks Abundant This Year and Showing Up in More Residential Areas
No two years are the same when it comes to outdoor pests like ticks. Ticks are not only abundant this ...
Congratulations to Dr. Dave Hogg on his Retirement!
Congratulations to Dave Hogg on his recent retirement from the UW-Madison Entomology Department. Dave has been an exemplary colleague, mentor, ...