Kansas State University

search

Extension Entomology

Category: Pollinators

Pollinator Working Group Webinar Series and delay in the Monarch listing final decision

Posted on by Department of Entomology
monarch on a flower

Passionate about monarch butterflies? Mercy from the Monarch Joint Venture, Pollinator Working Group lead, shares a few updates as we head into the new year. They have an amazing 2026 planned so stay tuned!

Lunch and Learn Series
They plan to launch a 2026 Lunch and Learn series featuring the Monarch Project Partners and all the great work that Monarch Joint Venture has done together. The sessions will be held every Tuesday starting January 13th at 12 CST. They want this to be a space for Defense staff to discuss issues and lessons learned as well so there will always have time for questions and discussion.

Monarch Radio Tags
The Monarch Defense team deployed the new radio tags in this season. Mercy will be preparing a short overview of the methods, early observations, and lessons learned that may be useful for installations. We hope to have a webinar session focusing on the tags. Here are the articles that discuss the project.

Monarch Listing Decision Update
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a delay in the final Endangered Species Act listing decision for the monarch butterfly. While the species remains a candidate, this extended timeline highlights the importance of continuing proactive conservation and monitoring efforts. For additional context, this AP News article provides a helpful overview of the current delay.

New publications: Lace Bugs, Cicada Killer and Kansas Wheat

Posted on by Department of Entomology

Kansas State University Research and Extension Bookstore recently released three new and updated publications to assist growers and gardeners. The publications cover topics ranging from agricultural pests to new wheat varieties and are available for download.

The new Kansas Wheat Variety Guide (MF991), authored by Kelsey Andersen Onofre and others, is an annually updated resource for selecting wheat varieties. The 2025 guide features new variety profiles and additional information on varieties with herbicide-tolerance traits, providing a valuable tool for farmers making planting decisions.

In addition to the wheat guide, two new publications by Raymond A. Cloyd address common insect-related issues in landscapes and gardens. The guide titled Lace Bugs: Insect Pests of Horticultural Plants (MF3703) offers detailed information on the biology, damage, and management of lace bugs, which are known to feed on a variety of horticultural plants.

The second publication, Cicada Killer (MF3704), focuses on the solitary wasp known as the cicada killer. The guide provides insights into the insect’s biology and behavior, as well as management strategies for those dealing with them in their yards or gardens.

All three publications are available for free download from the K-State Research and Extension Bookstore website.

Insight on wasp species, benefits and safe control practices

Posted on by Department of Entomology

MANHATTAN, Kan. — While wasps often get a bad reputation during summer picnics and yard work, not all are out to sting. In fact, many wasps are considered beneficial insects, helping to manage pest populations in gardens, fields and around the home, according to Kansas State University entomologist Jeff Whitworth.

“There are many different types of wasps in Kansas, but generally we group them into four main categories,” Whitworth said. “Two are social species that live in colonies, and two are solitary. All of them have their place in our ecosystem.”

Whitworth explained that the two species, often called paper wasps, build nests that resemble gray paper. Some species nest above ground, while others build their homes in the soil. These wasps often become noticeable during yardwork or when lifting hay bales or rocks.

“These wasps are usually non-aggressive,” Whitworth said. “If you disturb the nest, especially the underground kind, they’ll defend it just like a honeybee colony would.”

Unlike honey bees, which can sting only once, wasps can sting multiple times. Whitworth said that’s because female wasps don’t lose their stinger after using it.

“The female wasps are the hunters,” he said. “They sting caterpillars, grasshoppers or crickets to paralyze them and bring them back to their nest to feed their young. That’s why we consider them beneficial; they’re natural predators of many garden pests.”

Solitary wasps, like mud daubers, also help manage insect populations.

“They build, fill and seal the nest, then move on. They don’t come back to check on it and they rarely bother people.”

Whitworth said most wasps are harmless when left alone. However, there are times when you may need to remove a nest.

“Whether it’s a paper nest under an eave or a burrow in the ground, you’ll have better success treating the site at night,” he said. “Many common household insecticides are labeled for wasps, and the goal is to eliminate the nest when the wasps are home.”

Even outdoor events can draw a wasp’s attention, especially those attracted to sugar.

“They’re drawn to anything with sugar,” Whitworth said. “If you’re having a picnic, keep those things (containing sugar) covered or contained. “

Ultimately, Whitworth emphasized that most of the time wasps are more misunderstood than menacing.

“They’re not out to get you,” he said. “They’re just doing their jobs. Unless disturbed, most of them won’t bother you. They’re doing a service by helping control other pests.”

More information on controlling wasps around the home is available in the July 22 segment of the weekday K-State podcast, Agriculture Today.

More information: Jeff Whitworth, jwhitwor@ksu.edu

Related: Agriculture Today | Household Pests of Kansas

By Chevy-Lynn Vaske, K-State Research and Extension news service

Proposed listing of the monarch butterfly as a threatened species

Posted on by Department of Entomology
monarch on a flower

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to list the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 48 contiguous states. A threatened listing under the ESA can modify or exempt certain species protections to balance conservation efforts with economic impacts. It allows flexibility to incentivize positive conservation actions. Details about prohibitions and exceptions are available on the FWS website.

Continue reading “Proposed listing of the monarch butterfly as a threatened species” →

Perennial Grain Species as Border Crops: Pollinator Habitat, Weed Suppression, and Forage Potential (panel discussion)

Posted on by Sharon Schroll

–by Tania Kim — Dept. of Entomology – Insect, Landscape Ecology; Plant-Insect Interactions

 

You are invited to attend a panel discussion about perennial grains as border crops hosted by the Land Institute.

Date Time: Sep 22, 2021 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Perennial Grain Species as Border Crops: Pollinator Habitat, Weed Suppression, and Forage Potential

Location: Zoom (registration required, information below).

 

 

Description: Border crops have the potential to deliver agronomically important ecosystem services to crop fields. Perennial plantings could be advantageous in providing low-maintenance ground cover for field borders, flowers for pollinators, and even forage for livestock. In this webinar we will discuss the border crop potential of four perennial species at The Land Institute being domesticated as perennial grain crops – sainfoin, silflower, cup plant, and Kernza® – compared to two known border and forage crops, alfalfa and a 9-species prairie mixture. Dr. Ebony Murrell at The Land Institute and Jessica Butters at Kansas State University will discuss data collected during a 3-year research study, give a brief virtual tour of the research plots, and answer questions regarding perennial border crops and the services they provide.

 

To register, please use this link

 

https://landinstitute.org/news-events/event-calendar/perennial-grain-species-as-border-crops-webinar/