You are here

Insects

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

News

Tall grass grows in a field.
Chiggers are most active in grassy, overgrown, and wooded areas. These microscopic creatures, also known as redbugs, are tiny mites that can cause significant discomfort during the summer months. File photo by MSU Extension Service/Nathan Gregory.
May 27, 2025

What’s that itch? Chiggers, also known as redbugs, are tiny mites that can cause significant discomfort during the warmer months in Mississippi. Here's how to lessen your chances of coming into contact with these critters and some tips if you do.

three rows of lettuce grow in a garden
Slugs eat a wide variety of plants, but they are especially fond of leafy greens, such as lettuce. Photo by stock.adobe.com.
May 23, 2025

If you grow your own vegetables, you will likely see at least a few pesky insects that want to feed on your plants. Slugs are one of the pests you may be noticing now.

Small insects with and without wings are pictured together.
March 25, 2025

Mississippi’s native subterranean termites have started swarming, and these structure-destroying insects will continue to swarm across the state over the next few months.

John Riggins, professor of forest entomology in the Mississippi State University Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection, said termites swarm to produce new colonies when the weather warms up, often after a rain.

Success Stories

A woman, flanked by a young man and woman, holds a nameplate listing “E. Ruth Morgan.”
Volume 10 Number 2

Edna Ruth Morgan’s family never would have guessed her chosen career would have been in entomology.

Steven Bell stands beside a truck housing a mosquito sprayer.
Volume 5 Number 3

When most people think of mosquito control, they envision a large chemical tank in the bed of a pickup truck.

Spraying chemicals is actually the last resort in integrated pest management (IPM), a scientific process of preventing invasive insects from reaching adulthood. IPM uses environmentally responsible alternatives, such as habitat removal, structural barriers, and larval control, before using sampling and resistance management to determine treatment plans for adult mosquitoes.

Nine men and women stand in front of a metal building.
Volume 5 Number 2

A dream of the Mississippi Pest Control Association and the Mississippi State University Extension Service is coming true after more than 20 years, thanks to a generous donation by one of Mississippi’s oldest pest-control companies.

Select Your County Office