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Identify and Manage Outdoor Insects

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Updated: July 9, 2026

Spotted Lanternfly in Home Gardens

Learn about the Spotted Lanternfly life cycle, how to identify the insect, where it is currently located in Maryland, and what you can do to manage this invasive species around home landscapes.
spotted lanternfly side view
Updated: April 17, 2026

Social Wasps: Yellowjackets, Hornets, and Paper Wasps

How to identify and manage common wasps such as yellowjackets, European hornets, baldfaced hornets, and paper wasps found in Maryland. The Northern giant hornet ("murder hornet") and yellow-legged hornet are not present in Maryland.
a yellow and black wasp - europen hornet
Updated: August 12, 2024

Outdoor Insects in the Home Landscape

Most of the insects in the home landscape are beneficial. Learn to identify them and attract them to the garden. Learn to identify and manage other insects that may cause problems.
a bee at blue false indigo flowers
Updated: April 2, 2024

Insects: Our Most Under-Appreciated Neighbors

Are insects bugging you? Very few (less than 1% of species) are pests. Most insects provide vital benefits to people and the environment. Before reaching for pesticides to kill insects around your home, learn about them and what they do-- we're here to help!
a green beetle with six white spots is resting on a human hand - this is a non-harmful insect
Updated: October 1, 2026

Box Tree Moth

Be on the lookout for a new pest of boxwoods. Box tree moth caterpillars chew the leaves of boxwood plants and can cause complete defoliation. Boxwoods are their only host plant. This pest has been found in several US states, and was first detected in Maryland in July 2025. If you find it, please report it to us.
a white moth and a green caterpillar on a boxwood branch
Updated: September 23, 2026

Cicadas in Maryland

Learn about the biology and behavior of cicadas, what to expect during a periodical cicada mass emergence, and how to protect young trees from egg-laying damage.
periodical cicada
Updated: September 22, 2026

Indian Wax Scale

Learn how to identify and manage Indian wax scale insects.
A single indian wax scale on a twig
Updated: September 22, 2026

Pesticide Profile: Horticultural Oil

Horticultural oil is a low-risk insecticide used to treat pests on contact. Learn about its pros and cons and how to use it effectively.
A person wearing chemical-resistant gloves uses a handheld sprayer to apply liquid pesticide to the underside of a leaf on a branch.
Updated: September 4, 2026

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has decimated millions of ash trees across the Midwest and Eastern U.S. Learn how to identify this species and protect or manage infested ash trees.
emerald ash borer
Updated: July 15, 2026

Honeydew and Sooty Mold

Honeydew, a sugary waste product is produced by many sap-sucking insects. Sooty mold is a fungus that grows on the honeydew.
Leaves with and without sooty mold accumulation from magnolia scale feeding