Insects
Find research-based information on both helpful and harmful insects, spiders and other insect relatives. Learn how to identify insect damage on plants and in the landscape as well as how to prevent and control common household insect infestations.
Read about pest management on Yard and Garden News
On this page
Crop insects
Corn insects
Insects, diseases and nematodes affecting corn
Soybean insects
Insects and diseases affecting soybean
Household insects
Insects that infest homes
Ants, bed bugs, clothes moths, cockroaches, flour beetles, springtails, wasps
Nuisance insects
Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, flies, earwigs, masked hunters, springtails and stinkbugs
Product and houseplant pests
Pantry pests, carpet beetles, clothes moths and silverfish
Insect relatives
Spiders, ticks, mites, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions and sowbugs
Biting insects
Bed bugs, ticks, fleas, wasps and medically significant insects
Pollinators
Honey bees, bumble bees and native bees
Visit the Bee lab for information on helping pollinators
Flowers for pollinators
Bee lawns, pollinator friendly plants, pollinator health
How pollinator friendly is your yard and garden?
Take this quiz and learn how your backyard could better benefit bees and other beneficial insects
Plants for Minnesota bees
List of plants bees will visit
Yard and garden insects
Flower insects
Four-lined plant bug, iris borers, rose chafers, spider mites
Fruit and vegetable insects
Asparagus beetles, cabbageworms, Colorado potato beetles, spotted wing drosophila, squash vine borers
Lawn insects
Bluegrass billbug, cicada killers, cutworms, white grubs
Tree and shrub insects
Aphids, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, scales, sawflies
Biting insects and insect relatives
Bed bugs, ticks, fleas, wasps and medically significant insects
What insect is this?
Identify insects
Identify insects in and around your home and yard
What's wrong with my plant?
Plant diseases, insects pests of plants, control weeds