UW-Madison Department of Entomology

07/23/2026

Hard to believe that Wisconsin Insect Fest is this Friday! Full details for Wisconsin Insect Fest are available here: https://entomology.wisc.edu/outreach/wisconsin-insect-fest/

Wisconsin Insect Fest kicks off at 3 PM Friday 7/23/2026 with some activities running until midnight (e.g., nighttime moth surveys). We'll have indoor booths with fun activities and displays, guided walks, demonstrations, and insect-themed presentations. Plus, Olbrich is hosting Blooming Butterflies so there will be lots of beautiful insects to see.

Location: For those coming in from out of town, the address for Olbrich Botanical Gardens is: 3330 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704.

Food carts will be present from 5-9 PM and there are plenty of nearby restaurants as well.

UW-Entomology is pleased to announce that the 2026 Wisconsin Insect Fest event is coming back to Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, WI on Friday, July 24th starting at 3 PM. Wisconsin Insect Fest featuresa mixture of indoor and outdoor insect-themed activities, including educational prese...

07/21/2026

I am reaching out on behalf of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease at UW Madison. We are conducting a research study to understand what people in the Midwest know about mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. Your input will help us create better educational materials to keep communities safe.

What’s involved?
Just one online survey that takes about 10-20 minutes. You’ll answer questions about mosquitoes and their control, and any information sources you have on the topic.

Ready to participate?
Go to: https://redcap.link/mosquitocontrol

Thank you for your time and for helping us improve public health messaging and mosquito control efforts in your community.

If you have any questions, please contact the study team at [email protected] or (217)-300-1428.

Surveying residents' awareness and behaviors on mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseasesThe purpose of this research study is to learn what residents in the Midwestern region of the UnitedStates know about mosquitoes and the diseases they can spread. We are also interested in knowingwhether residents....

03/04/2022

For potato growers in Wisconsin and beyond, the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) can be a significant pest and this insect is notorious for its ability to develop resistance to many of the management approaches used. Recently, Dr. Sean Schoville and colleagues took a deep dive into the genetics of this pest, which has provided important clues to understanding these insects.

‘Super pest’ Colorado potato beetle has the genetic resources to sidestep our attacks: https://entomology.wisc.edu/2022/02/18/super-pest-colorado-potato-beetle-has-the-genetic-resources-to-sidestep-our-attacks/

Photo credit: Zach Cohen

02/25/2022

What's the "latest and greatest" from UW-Entomology? Check out the recent issue of our Entomology Digest for news and updates from the department:

Entomology Digest – Spring 2022 February 14, 2022February 15, 2022 | By Ben Bradford Letter from the Chair Entomology Community and Friends of the Department, “A return to normal?” We are fortunate to be in the process of recruiting two new faculty to the Department this Spring, 2022. The firs...

06/03/2021

It's time to do those daily tick checks! Tiny deer tick nymphs are very active in June and early July. Check out the TickApp website at https://thetickapp.org/ for more information and download the app if you would like to participate in our study of tick bite prevention behaviors and reducing the risk of Lyme disease exposure.

YOUR ON-THE-GO TICK EXPERT

03/18/2021

Are you interested in entomology and scientific illustration? You’re in luck!

We’re excited to announce Entomology Special Topics 375: Illustrating Insects, which will be offered during the 2021 summer term. This new, 3-credit virtual course taught by Jacki Whisenant will introduce students to traditional and digital scientific illustration, infographics, and other topics over 6 weeks.

01/15/2021

New today in PNAS, a Special Feature on "The Global Decline of Insects in the Anthropocene," with 12 research articles + a news feature. The intro article frames the global threats to insects as "death by a thousand cuts." See the full collection at https://www.pnas.org/content/118/2

10/09/2020

If you're seeing lots of lady beetles this week, you aren't alone! Multicolored Asian lady beetles are surprisingly abundant this fall across Wisconsin and they're seeking out sheltered overwintering spots which can include homes and other structures:

Asian lady beetles are very active this fall across Wisconsin and are currently seeking overwintering spots in homes and other locations.

07/30/2020

Think you've spotted an Asian giant hornet (aka "murder hornet") in Wisconsin? You've most likely seen a common native insect known as a "cicada killer wasp". These large wasps are common this time of the year and hunt cicadas which they feed to their young. Learn more about these insects from our insect diagnostician, PJ Liesch: https://insectlab.russell.wisc.edu/2015/07/27/cicada-killers/

06/15/2020

Wisconsin is synonymous with "The Dairy State", but it wasn't always so. Did you know that a tiny black & white insect known as the chinch bug played an important role in shifting Wisconsin from wheat to dairy?



Find the full story here:

Wisconsin wasn't always the Dairy State. In the 1800's several things, including the tiny chinch bug shifted Wisconsin agriculture from wheat to dairy.