Insects

OSU Extension Service provides information on insect and arthropod management in Oregon and throughout the country. This includes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, research on pollinators and specimen preservation.

PNW Insect Management Handbook

By Navneet Kaur

Covers pesticide safety and toxicity, protecting bees, adjuvants, mixing tables, calibration and biological control. Other sections cover a wide variety of agricultural and nonagricultural products such as commercial vegetables, small fruit, turf and ornamentals, hay and pasture, grains, seeds, home gardens, greenhouses, livestock, poultry, household and public health. Each section describes pests, the damage they do, and recommended management.

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Latest Resources

Trapping and Identifying Mealybugs in Oregon Vineyards

Vineyard managers will learn how and why to trap vine mealybugs in vineyards.

Kyoo Rok Park, Serhan Mermer, Gordon B. Jones, Govinda Shrestha, Alexander Levin, Rick Hilton, Nathan H. Mercer, Kent M. Daane, Linda Brewer, Patricia A. Skinkis, Vaughn Walton | Feb 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

What are these round things on my plant?

Q: I found these round “buddies” on a hellebore stem. What are they?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

How to pin insects

These Purdue University Extension videos show how to pin: a ground beetle, damselfly, silkworm moth, hornworm moth.

Purdue University Extension | Jan 2024 | Online resource

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Have an insect problem?

Solve Pest Problems is a partnership between OSU and Oregon stakeholders to provide a user-friendly online resource to help urban and rural property managers to solve pest problems. Learn research-based, safe, and effective tactics for common garden and property pests and weeds. We provide non-chemical methods alongside the most effective and least toxic chemical options available, to reduce risk to people and the environment.

Learn more

A Pocket Guide to Common Natural Enemies of Nursery Crops and Garden Pests in the Pacific Northwest

By Melissa Scherr, Robin Rosetta and Lloyd Nackley

Learn how to identify some common insects that prey on garden pests. See what they look like at various life stages, and learn how to encourage beneficial insects in your garden or nursery. Print this pocket guide on letter-size paper and cut pages as indicated to make a booklet.

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Photo Credit: Eduardo Estellez - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Oregon Insect Identification Resources

Common Spiders Found in Central Oregon

A list of spiders that can be commonly found in or around central Oregon.

Jul 2018 | Collection

Entomology for gardeners

Your garden is full of insects—some friends, some foes. Learn how to identify insects so that you know how to respond when you see them in your garden.

Jean R. Natter | Jan 2019 | Article

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Collecting and Preserving Insects

Collecting insects can be a fun hobby, and is also an important step in IPM. The resources in this collection will help you learn how to find and collect insects and arthropods, then prepare them so that they can be useful for identification and research efforts.

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Photo Credit: Jet Stouten - Unsplash.com (Cropped from original)

Featured Insect Questions

How can I support the endangered Monarch butterfly?

Q: I recently read in the news that the Monarch Butterfly was added to the endangered species list. What can I plant in my garden to help the butterfly? I read that milkweed plants are their natural habitat. Yesterday I ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

What do I do if I suspect an emerald ash borer infestation?

Q: We have at least one ash tree that is showing top dieback. What should we do to try to confirm whether or not we have the beetle?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Stink bugs and boxelder bugs everywhere?

Q: The exterior of my house is covered in stink bugs and boxelder bugs. Occasionally, some also get inside my home. How do I get rid of them without using pesticides?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Latest News

Extension research leads to change in the management of clover seed weevil

In collaboration with the Oregon Clover Commission, the Oregon State University weevil research team presented its results at four grower meetings and one OSU Extension-led workshop. Three Extension seed production reports were made available during 2020-2023.

Christy Tanner, Navneet Kaur | Apr 2024 | Impact story

OSU Extension trains new B-Team to assess the status of Oregon’s wild bees

The B-Team will fill in gaps in knowledge about where bees live and the plants they depend on for nutrition and to lay their eggs.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 31, 2023 | News story

Don’t cut down that ash tree just yet – Oregon won’t see full effect of emerald ash borer for years

Currently, the emerald ash borer has been found in trees only in Washington County, where a quarantine prohibits moving ash (Fraxinus) or fringe tree (Chionanthus) wood in or out of the area.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 28, 2023 | News story

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Explore more resources

Organic agriculture

Bees and pollinators

Gardening techniques

Integrated pest management

Invasive species

Pesticide safety and education

Upcoming Events

Jun 1

Open garden: Invertebrates and vertebrates

10:00 am - 1:00 pm Portland, OR

Jun 11

What’s Eating My Food?: Garden Pest Management

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT Online

Meet Our Experts

Vaughn Walton

Entomologist

Navneet Kaur

Assistant Professor

Contact for insect pest management related question in field crops

Nick Andrews

Organic Vegetable Extension

Jessica Green

Senior Research Assistant

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