University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Insects and Microbes

A world leader in entomology research
The UGA Department of Entomology is ranked No. 8 in the world among university entomology programs (2017, Center for World University Rankings). That ranking rests on the department's well-balanced strengths in basic, applied and directed science. Our deep, diversified team of outstanding scientists across Georgia enables the department to respond to urgent needs, like controlling an outbreak of whiteflies attacking food crops or identifying new pests like kudzu bugs and brown marmorated stinkbugs appearing in fields or ports. While applied scientists work to get the immediate issue under control, basic scientists go to work in the lab to understand the insect biology and seek long-term control solutions. Entomology is an integral part of UGA multidisciplinary teams working to improve agriculture at home and around the world. The unit plays a role in ensuring the success of every area of agriculture but also impacts public health, animal health and environmental health.
See Related Impact Statements
Bermudagrass stem maggot (2018) Classification and localization of cotton bolls in real-time using 3-D imaging and artificial Intelligence for development of a small robotic cotton harvesting platform (2018) Georgia Pecan Insect Pest Management (2018) Integrating Wetland Ecoystem Services into Agriculture (2018) Investigating vector physiology: hormones and microbes (2018) Management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila in Georgia Blueberries (2018) New Research into Diamondback Moth Insecticide Resistance (2018) Parasite-host interactions (2018) The genetics of social variation in a highly invasive fire ant species (2018)

Our Research

The strength of the UGA Department of Entomology is the breadth and balance of its programs. View the core areas of research below as well as the faculty whose programs contribute to these areas.


Entomology Research News

Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long (center) announced the recipients of the GFB Harvest 20 Research Grants at the GFB Commodity Conference on Aug. 8. University of Georgia faculty who were awarded grants are (l-r) Lawton Stewart, Govindaraj Dev Kumar, Angelita Acebes, Sudeep Bag, Jonathan Oliver and (not pictured) Bhabesh Dutta and Mark Freeman. CAES News
Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long (center) announced the recipients of the GFB Harvest 20 Research Grants at the GFB Commodity Conference on Aug. 8. University of Georgia faculty who were awarded grants are (l-r) Lawton Stewart, Govindaraj Dev Kumar, Angelita Acebes, Sudeep Bag, Jonathan Oliver and (not pictured) Bhabesh Dutta and Mark Freeman.
Georgia Farm Bureau awards $94,000 in grants to UGA scientists
The Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) has awarded $94,000 in research grants to seven University of Georgia scientists and their research teams who are addressing production issues impacting Georgia farmers.
Entomologist Bill Snyder studies how beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil allow plants to protect themselves against plant-feeding insects and attract predatory insects to their defense. He also collaborates with farmers interested in learning more about beneficial insects, birds, or soil organisms on their farms. Snyder joined the University of Georgia in July. CAES News
Entomologist Bill Snyder studies how beneficial bacteria and fungi in the soil allow plants to protect themselves against plant-feeding insects and attract predatory insects to their defense. He also collaborates with farmers interested in learning more about beneficial insects, birds, or soil organisms on their farms. Snyder joined the University of Georgia in July.
New UGA entomologist studies beneficial biodiversity on farms
Bill Snyder, the newest researcher to join the University of Georgia Department of Entomology, is looking forward to working with the wide diversity of soils, climates and cropping systems in the Southeastern U.S.
Whiteflies transmit several devastating viruses to important vegetable crops, including squash. CAES News
Whiteflies transmit several devastating viruses to important vegetable crops, including squash.
UGA CAES part of extensive research study aimed at whitefly management
Researchers from three research institutions are using a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fight whiteflies on vegetable crops.
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UGA Department of Entomology