Welcome! We hope while visiting this ornamental entomology website you’ll find answers to your questions regarding diagnosis and effective management of arthropod (insect and mite) pests of trees and shrubs in Pennsylvania.  The website is designed to assist you with easier access to information on key arthropod pests of woody ornamental plants.

Most people do not recognize one insect from another and consider many insect and mite species to be harmful.  If a plant has damage and there is an insect or mite close to that damage, they often conclude that the insect or mite present is the causal organism.  Most insects do not cause economic or aesthetic damage to woody ornamental plants.  Unless the causal organism is accurately identified, we cannot be sure that the insect or mite is destructive.  All too often, a beneficial insect has been sprayed because it was thought to be harmful.  Once we know the correct identity of an insect or mite, we can investigate important facts regarding its life cycle in Pennsylvania.  As an example, we would be able to determine whether it is beneficial or harmful, whether it has chewing or piercing-sucking mouthparts, which stages are destructive, what it prefers to eat, where it lives, and the number of generations it produces each year.  All of this information is vital to any effective woody ornamental pest management program.  Enjoy the wonderful world of insects and their relatives!