Insect Management

The UNL Department of Entomology provides current, science-based information to meet the needs of clientele throughout the state and region. Our programs are directed at solving pressing insect pest problems and provide improved management recommendations, new insect pest management tools, and education for insect pest related issues.

chinch bugs
View Insect Light Trap Reports for 2017
  • South Central Ag Lab, Clay Center
  • Northeast Research and Extension Center, Concord
  • West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte
Nebraska Guide to Insecticides for Field Crops

Excerpted from the most recent Nebraska Extension Guide for Weed, Disease and Insect Management, these insecticide tables cover alfalfa, corn, soybean, and wheat treatments. They are reviewed and updated annually. The full 300+ page guide is available at Nebraska Extension Publications.

Handy Bt Trait Table for US Corn Production

Most corn hybrids planted in the U.S. contain one or more transgenic traits for weed or insect management. The Handy Bt Trait Table, last updated in January 2018, lists trait names and details of trait package. materials, and bag tags.

Related Articles

People gather at field's edge to listen to presentation
Attendees gather to listen to a presentation during a past South Central Agricultural Laboratory Field Day. Presentations during the 2024 SCAL Field Day will include technologies for irrigation scheduling, corn and soybean disease updates, optimizing nitrogen use efficiency via sensor-based fertigation, and more. (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture photo)

South Central Agricultural Lab Field Day Kicks Off Aug. 8

July 25, 2024
This year's SCAL Field Day features a live demonstration of John Deere's new camera-based weed detection technology, See and Spray™.

Read more

Men and women look at soybean plant near field
Attendees gather in the field for discussion during the 2023 Soybean Management Field Days in Dewitt. (Department of Agronomy and Horticulture photo)

New Format for Nebraska Soybean Management Field Days

July 23, 2024
New in 2024, three of the four Soybean Management Field Days will be hosted during evening hours at sites across eastern and central Nebraska.

Read more

Photo collage of insect on plant leaf and hand holding bisected plant stem
Figure 1. Adult soybean stem borer, Dectes texanus texanus (left) and larval tunneling in soybean petioles (right) at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center in June 2024.

Dectes Stem Borer in Soybean

July 10, 2024
A difficult insect to manage, soybean stem borer has expanded its reach in Nebraska. This extension article reviews considerations for scouting and control options, plus resources for producers to learn more on this crop pest.

Read more

Grasshopper on plant leaf
While grasshoppers are considered damaging to rangeland and crops, only a handful of Nebraska’s species have been known to cause damage. Correct identification of these species’ nymphal developmental stage will improve results from insecticide applications. See the Grasshopper Pest Management page for identification resources.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Management Considerations for Grasshopper, Poison Hemlock and Yucca

June 20, 2024
Economic thresholds of grasshoppers have been observed in some Nebraska pastures — review the square foot method and insecticide options to begin scouting and control measures. 

Read more

Western bean cutworm on corn

Degree-days for Prediction of Western Bean Cutworm Flight in 2024

June 19, 2024
Measuring the amount of heat between an upper and lower threshold to which an insect has been exposed, degree-days models can provide a high level of precision in predicting western bean cutworm peak flight.

Read more