Insects

OSU Extension Service provides up-to-date information on insect and arthropod management in Oregon and throughout the country. This includes pest management in urban and agricultural settings, as well as conservation of beneficial insects and pollinator health. We provide resources and expertise to help you find the information you need.

Insect ID

Do you need help identifying an insect ? Whether it was found in your home, garden, orchard, or field, OSU entomologists are able to assist you. Click the button to learn more.

I need help identifying an insect

Featured Resources

2021 PNW Insect Management Handbook

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 ...

May 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Douglas-fir Insect Pests

Douglas-firs usually do not tolerate extreme drought conditions well. In this article, you'll learn the most common insects in a drought-stressed or dead Douglas-fir, the damage they cause, and some suggestions for reducing that damage.

Ellen Michaels Goheen, Don Goheen | Jun 2018 | Article

Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden

Describes the three types of beneficial insects (predators, pollinators, and parasitoids) and the pests they control. Illustrates common beneficial insects of the Pacific Northwest. Explains how to protect beneficial insects from ...

Jul 2001 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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.

Silvia I. Rondon, Mary Corp | Dec 2018 | Collection Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Pest Management in Crops

Hazelnut IPM

Resources about integrated pest management for hazelnuts.

Nik Wiman, Vaughn Walton, Jay Pscheidt, Marcelo Moretti, David Lowenstein, Heather Andrews, Rachele Nieri | May 2019 | Collection Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD)

Information and resources about monitoring, identification, and management of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), an invasive fruit fly.

Vaughn Walton, Linda Brewer, Bernadine Strik, Patricia Skinkis, Peter Shearer, Jana Lee, Man-Yeon Choi | Dec 2018 | Collection

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB)

Information and resources about the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), an invasive

Nik Wiman, Rick Hilton, Clive Kaiser, Vaughn Walton, Rachel Suits, David Lowenstein, Victoria Skillman, Heather Andrews | Dec 2018 | Collection

Field Crop IPM

The Agricultural Research and Extension Centers in Eastern and Central Oregon have dedicated faculty focused on IPM (Integrated Pest Management) for potato and seed potato production. Additional resources are available for Western ...

Oct 2019 | Collection

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Latest News

OSU study will provide insight into optimal nutrition for bees

With the $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, the team hopes to improve bee nutrition by building a database of macro and micronutrients found in the flowering plants used in the study.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 26, 2021 | News story

Sightings of spotted lanternflies worry farmers, nursery industry

So far, there’s no known infestation in Oregon. If one establishes, many of Oregon’s high-value industries may be affected, including wine grapes, nursery and tree crops, small fruits and timber.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 15, 2021 | News story

Asian giant hornet still far from Oregon

The invasive hornet is a concern and residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for the hornet and report possible sightings.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 9, 2021 | News story

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Bees and Pollinators

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Integrated Pest Management

Invasive Species

Nuisance Wildlife

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Meet Our Experts

Silvia I. Rondon

Entomologist

Contact for IPM questions

Vaughn Walton

Entomologist

Gail Langellotto

Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator

Contact me for insect and gardening questions.

Nik Wiman

Orchard Crops Specialist

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Was this spider silk or something else?

Q: While driving across the upper Klamath Basin mid October, my husband and I saw what looked like spider silk or web drifting in the air, and caught in trees and fence-lines - lots of it! Can you tell me what that is?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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