Beneficial Organisms
Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants - MSU Ext. Bulletin E - 2973, Jan 07; 5 p PDF; excellent photos/info., includes predators, parasotoids, and bees.
Plants that Attract Beneficials and Pests and Associated Beneficial Insects - PSU; chart form. Be sure to avoid using any INVASIVE PLANTS listed on these sites. Invasive plants decrease our biodiversity. Check the Invasive Plants page to be sure.
Beneficial Organisms in Home and Garden Information Center's Plant Diagnostic Website - U of MD: photos of beneficial organisms and text stating what insects they eat.
Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America - Cornell U.; photos and descriptions of biocontrol agents of insect, disease and weed pests.
Biological Control Sources
Insect Parasitic Nematodes - national source list by OSU, includes Harrisburg co.: BioLogic Company - Harrisburg co.; search by products, pests, biocontols organisims in left column.
Using Insect Parasitic Nematodes, General Guidelines - OSU; timing, storage, etc.

Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies and Moths of North America – Montana State U.; images, species by county.
PA map search by county *takes a few seconds to load but well worth the wait.
Developed by scientists at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Includes photos, ID, life history, caterpillar host, adult food, habitat.
Growing Degree Days GDD
Average daily temp minus baseline temp of 50° beginning 1 March. Degrees above 50° is cumulative through the season. Negative numbers are ignored. Ex. 80° high + 60° low for a particular day, 140 divided by 2 = 70 – 50 = 20° days for that day. The number is used to predict plant and insect development under normal growing conditions. Unseasonal drought or disease would affect the results.
Daily PA Regional Growing Degree Days – PSU; chart is slow to load; take number from this chart to use with following chart to help determine insect’s life cycle and possible control measures.
Using Growing Degree Days for Insect Management - UNH Cooperative Extension
Using Nature's Signals to Manage Landscape Pests - PSU; in-depth explanation of GDD.
Home insects
Household - PSU Entomology; detailed sheets w//sketch/photos.
Public Health Pest Problem Solvers - PSU IPM
Cornell Guide to Pest Management Around the Home: Cultural methods
Key to Common Household Ants – U of CA
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs - PSU Entomology Fact Sheet
Insect ID Keys
NCSU key to insects – Center for IPM & NC State.
BugGuide – compiled by naturalists, hosted by Iowa State U.; photos
IDnature guides - MO Botanical Garden & U. of Georgia; scroll down to choose blue link: ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, crane fly, mosquitoes, ticks. Check boxes to narrow search.
Search Engines
Entomology Fact Sheets – PSU; search feature in upper right corner.
Ohioline Yard & Garden
Plant Pest Handbook Index - CT state gov., searchable by plant
Fact Sheets - PSU Woody Ornamental IPM; photos and info; search insect common name.
Specific Insects
Armyworm Pseudaleta unipuncta
Armyworm as a Pest of Field Corn - PSU Dept of Entomology Fact Sheet.
Asian Longhorn Beetle
Asian Longhorn Beetle - PSU IPM; discovered in Brooklyn, NY in 1996, now also present in NJ, IL, Toronto, Canada, and Worcester, MA; not yet a pest in PA. Attacks many hardwood trees, such as maple, elm, horsechestnut, ash, birch, poplar, willow.
Asian Longhorn Beetle - DCNR.
Asian Long-Horned Beetle - USDA National Invasive Species Information Center.
Cabbage Maggot
PSU Entomological Notes
PA IPM
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants - PSU Entomological Notes.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter Bees - PSU Entomological Notes, 2 p PDF, photo/info. HTM
Stinging Insects: Carpenter Bees - Cornell U Master Beekeeper Program, Kathryn Gardner.
Cicada Killer Wasps
Stinging Insects: Cicada Killer Wasps - Cornell U. The Bee-Files
Rutgers U. source
Dogwood Sawflies Macremphytus tarsatus
Dogwood Sawfly Fact Sheet - PSU Woody Ornamental Fact Sheet; photos/info.
Plant Pest Handbook - CT Agricultural Experiment Station; life cycle and control.
Photos - Aug 14, 2009 blog with excellent photos.
Eastern Tent Caterpillars
PSU Dept of Entomology, Entomology Notes.
PSU Woody Ornamental Integrated Pest Management - Eastern Tent Caterpillar Fact Sheet.
PSU Woody Ornamental Insect, Mite and Disease Management - Includes list of formulations for tent caterpillar management.
Emerald Ash Borer EAB
PSU Ornamental Entomology
First found in PA in Butler County in June 2007. In Feb 2009 present in Mifflin County, central PA, in addition to sections of western PA. In June 2009 found in Westmoreland County and St. Paul, MN. First noted in the U.S. in Michigan in June 2002 and has now killed 40 million trees in MI, IL, IN, MD, OH, and PA. Unknown source of EAB but may have come in ash wood in cargo ships or in packaging of consumer goods.
The native range of EAB is eastern Russia, northeast China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
All species of ash in the plant genus Fraxinus and their cultivars appear to be susceptible to EAB in North America. It does not attack mountain ash in the plant genus Sorbus.
Multinational Emerald Ash Borer Website - detailed info with photos; treatment options detailed.
European pine sawfly
European Pine Sawfly Fact Sheet - PSU Woody Ornamental IPM.
Attacks such pines as mugo, Scotch, jack, red, Japanese red.
European pine shoot moth
Text from PSU
photos of insect and damage from Oregon State U.
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Honey Bees
See Pollinators page.
Iris Borer
Macronocture onusta, the iris borer, acutally the larval form of a moth, first discovered in the 1890's in the northern suburbs of Chicago on some daylilies.
Controlloing the Iris Borer - Region 1 of American Iris Society; indepth info., includes cultural, chemical, and alternative controls.
Iris Borer - UWI Extension, brief info, borer photo.
Japanese Beetles
MI Botanical Garden - complete info, photos of plant damage
Lace bugs
OSU Fact Sheet
Millipedes
Millipedes - PSU Entomological Notes.
Millipedes - OSU Extension Factsheet
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles
Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles - OSU Fact Sheet.
Periodical Cicadas
PSU Entomology fact sheet.
U of CT Postdoctoral Research Associate website with detailed photos and info. Provides link to report emergencies.
Stink Bugs Halyomorpha halys
Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs - PSU Entomology Fact Sheet
Ticks
Lyme Disease - PSU College of Ag Sciences
Introduction & Disease Transmission, Epidemiology, Life Cycle of the Blacklegged Tick, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment, Lyme Disease and Dogs, Disease Prevention.
Lyme Disease - PSU Extension Circular 366; on office kiosk.
Virburnum Leaf Beetle
Viburnum Leaf Beetle Citizen Science - Cornell U.;detailed photos/text.
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