Insects : article
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The mouth of a termite might be small, but an infestation can take a big bite out of a home if left undetected.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you have the sniffles or a bad infection, a visit to your doctor can usually put things right. Plants can get sick too and the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic is where you can turn for help.
Asian needle ants, an invasive species, may reach Missouri in 2025. Stay alert to protect local environments and health.
Asian giant hornets are not a threat in Missouri; their “murder hornet” label is misleading and causes unnecessary fear.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri residents are urged to be on the lookout for spotted lanternfly (SLF), an insect that could have devastating effects on the state’s $4.2 billion wine and grape industry. SLF can damage fruits including grapes, as well as ornamentals and urban landscapes.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Several types of caterpillars damage tomato plants in Missouri, but the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm usually get the most attention because of the prominent horn on the last segment of their bodies.
Emerald ash borer threatens ash trees across Missouri. Learn signs of infestation, treatment options, and ways to protect valuable trees.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – To some, “Don’t let the bedbugs bite” isn’t just a quaint good-night wish. Bedbugs are a nightmare for people in the hospitality and housing industries, says Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program.
Manage pests like cucumber beetles and squash bugs with trap cropping, hand removal, and selective insecticides to protect your cucurbit crops.
Discover how companion planting boosts growth, deters pests, attracts pollinators, and enhances garden beauty and soil health.
Brown marmorated stink bugs threaten crops, reducing yields in soybeans, corn, fruits, and vegetables across Missouri.
Do not plant unsolicited seeds. They may carry pests, diseases, or invasive species. Report or safely return unknown seeds.
Get answers to curious questions about mosquitoes, larvae, and bug behavior for kids and families.
Help kids explore the world of insects with answers to their curious bug questions and fun winter bug facts.
Discover why your Christmas tree might host tiny mantises and how Pokémon’s Scyther was inspired by real bugs.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - They're here: Emerald ash borers, which have killed tens of millions of ash trees in eight states, are now in Missouri. On July 23, USDA scientists discovered seven of the insects in traps in Wayne County in southeast Missouri.
Expect high Japanese beetle activity this year, damaging corn, soybeans, and over 400 garden plants. Control may require multiple treatments.
The success of next year’s garden is influenced greatly by fall cleanup. Garden cleanup does more than just improve the appearance of the garden during the mundane, lifeless months of winter. It reduces the amount of disease inoculum and insect infestation that might remain.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri farmers who bought hay from parts of the southern U.S. may have accidentally brought along a nasty visitor.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Those unsightly round, brown growths seen on oaks this time of year won’t harm the tree, says a University of Missouri Extension fruit specialist.
The University of Missouri’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to strengthen its reach to diverse clientele with sustainable pest management practices.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – In response to the tremendous interest in home food production, University of Missouri Extension now offers a free online course in basic vegetable gardening.
COLUMBIA, Mo. –During August, homeowners may notice signs of grubs, an unwelcome annual visitor to healthy, green lawns.
“The earliest symptoms of white grubs feeding on turf grass roots are wilted patches,” said Brad Fresenburg, University of Missouri Extension turf researcher.
Learn how to protect yourself and pets from ticks and prevent Heartland disease in Missouri.
ST. PETERS, Mo. – A high tunnel workshop will be held 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the University of Missouri Extension Center in St. Charles County, 260 Brown Road, St. Peters.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – An exotic pest that hitchhikes on train cars, trucks and boats could suck the life out Missouri crops.
The spotted lanternfly is a threat to Missouri’s wine industry, hitchhiking on vehicles and posing risks to grape production and tourism.
Discover hostas, hardy perennials that thrive in shade, offering diverse foliage, fragrant blooms, and easy care for any garden.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dry soil conditions can significantly reduce the life span of valuable landscape trees.
“Because they are difficult and expensive to replace, your trees need attention during and after periods of drought,” says University of Missouri Extension state forestry specialist Hank Stelzer.
Joro spiders aren’t yet in Missouri and pose little threat, though their range may expand northward in the future.
Learn how to prevent and manage bedbug infestations with practical tips for detection, treatment, and long-term control strategies.
Recent cicadas caused twig damage on trees and shrubs, but their decay benefits soil and wildlife.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County will hold Master Gardener classes Monday evenings at Jefferson College’s Hillsboro campus.
Weekly classes will be 6:30-9:30 p.m., Feb. 26 to May 7, said MU Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - With summer rain come mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes come not just itchy bites but the risk of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever, among others, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and entomologist…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri farmers have a new tool to alert them to insects, crop diseases and other important information from University of Missouri Extension specialists.
Warns people not to plant unsolicited seeds from abroad to avoid invasive pests, diseases, or viruses.
On-site crop health clinic at Clark Produce Auction offering Amish growers insect, disease diagnosis and tailored guidance.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Like humans, plants can get sick and need someone to diagnose their illnesses, says Peng Tian, the new lab director of the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic.
PALMYRA, Mo. – “The genie’s out of the bottle” on the spotted lanternfly, University of Missouri Extension entomologist Kevin Rice told farmers Feb. 8 at the second annual NEMO Soils and Crop Conference in Palmyra.
No spotted lanternfly detected in Missouri yet, but residents and growers are urged to stay vigilant and report sightings.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho
2024 has not been an ideal year for thrips management due to the consistent overcast during the daytime hours. This restricts thrips movement, and in hand can increase injury. Hot and sunny conditions are ideal not because thrips are more active, but because cotton and growth development occur more…
Report unsolicited seed packages to Missouri officials. Do not plant or open seeds and follow MDA guidance.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho
Holiday greenery may carry harmless insects from nature indoors—learn how tree farms, vacuuming, or removal can keep unwanted pests out.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – You aren’t the only one getting cozy for fall. While you are pulling out the flannels, insects are looking for a place to be snug as a bug in a rug for the winter.
Spotted lanternfly may arrive in Missouri this summer, threatening grapes and vineyards—early detection and control are vital to protect industry.
Brown marmorated stink bugs seek to overwinter indoors; prevent entry with caulking, screens, and vacuuming to reduce nuisance infestation.
Show Missouri insects some love this Valentine's Day by supporting pollinators and reducing pesticide use.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri’s black walnut trees could be in trouble if thousand cankers disease (TCD) moves in from bordering Tennessee.
TCD is a serious threat to one of the state’s most valuable hardwood species, says Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri Extension state forestry specialist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – For Halloween, University of Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff celebrates the creepy qualities of some insects and fungi.