Backyard bugs tip sheet
Contact for reporters:
Jayme DeLoss
jdeloss@colostate.edu
(970) 491-8904
As Coloradans head outside to enjoy nature this time of year, they are more likely to have close encounters of the winged, many-legged and creepy-crawly kind. Colorado State University experts are here to help identify insects, interpret bug behavior and explain what they mean for our health and gardens.
Insects in general:
Melissa Schreiner, entomologist and CSU Extension specialist for the Tri-River Area
Melissa.Schreiner@colostate.edu
(970) 244-1838
Focus areas: Colorado native bees, insect identification, plant damage identification, horticultural entomology, agricultural entomology, invasive insects
Lisa Mason, entomologist and CSU Extension horticulture specialist for Arapahoe County
Lisa.Mason@colostate.edu
(303) 738-7966
Maia Holmes, entomologist, agricultural biology instructor and CSU Bug Zoo director
Maia.Holmes@colostate.edu
CSU Bug Zoo: https://agsci.colostate.edu/agbio/the-bug-zoo/
csubugzoo@gmail.com
Garden pests:
Melissa Schreiner, entomologist and CSU Extension specialist for the Tri-River Area
Melissa.Schreiner@colostate.edu
(970) 244-1838
Lisa Mason, entomologist and CSU Extension horticulture specialist for Arapahoe County
Lisa.Mason@colostate.edu
(303) 738-7966
Crystal Cooke, entomologist and agricultural biology instructor, identifies insects for the CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic (more information below)
Crystal.Cooke@colostate.edu
(970) 491-8795
Karim Gharbi, CSU Extension horticulture instructor for Denver County
Karim.Gharbi@colostate.edu
(970) 491-7879
Mosquitos, mosquito-borne diseases and West Nile virus:
Rebekah Kading, Kading Lab director, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Rebekah.Kading@colostate.edu
(970) 491-7833
Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases:
Emma Harris, research scientist in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Emkate.Harris@colostate.edu
(970) 491-8236
Butterflies and moths:
Chuck Harp, lepidopterist and collections manager for the C.P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity
Chuck.Harp@colostate.edu
(970) 491-7419
Pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.):
John Mola, ecologist and assistant professor in the Warner College of Natural Resources
John.Mola@colostate.edu
(970) 491-4575
Lisa Mason, entomologist and CSU Extension horticulture specialist for Arapahoe County
Lisa.Mason@colostate.edu
(303) 738-7966
Bees:
Melissa Schreiner, entomologist and CSU Extension specialist for the Tri-River Area
Melissa.Schreiner@colostate.edu
(970) 244-1838
Wasps:
Marek Borowiec, entomologist and assistant professor of agricultural biology
Marek.Borowiec@colostate.edu
(970) 491-7314
Parasitic wasps:
Crystal Cooke, entomologist and agricultural biology instructor, identifies insects for the CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic (more information below)
Crystal.Cooke@colostate.edu
(970) 491-8795
CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic:
Having trouble identifying your backyard bug? The CSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic can help for a small fee. Send images to csuplantlab@colostate.edu with your name and a description of where and when you saw the bug(s). We may need a specimen to properly identify the insect/arthropod, but an image is a good place to start. For more information on how to submit a specimen and other services, visit our website: agsci.colostate.edu/agbio/plantclinic/submit-sample/.