Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology

Entomology, plant pathology and nematology

Insects are everywhere and significantly impact our world. As a student in the Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology (EPPN), you will work to discover safe and healthy ways to protect our food and resources from pests and disease while also protecting our natural ecosystems.

The only entomology and global disease ecology degrees in the Pacific Northwest

University of Idaho is the only university in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West to offer a bachelor’s degree in entomology. In this program you’ll study pollination, disease transmission, pest management and all areas of entomology.

The global disease ecology degree is the first of its kind in the region. In this program you’ll advance your understanding of the societal, environmental and personal impacts of diseases that affect how plants, animals and humans live together in complex ecosystems. This program has a research component and is perfect for those interested in global and public health.

A minor in entomology provides an introduction to a range of entomological knowledge and is great for students interested in insects, their management and their role in natural and agricultural ecosystems. The plant protection minor gives you a broad knowledge in weed control, plant pathology, invasive plant biology and pesticides. 

Academics

You’ll work closely with our faculty to better understand the impact of insects on our world in one of our degree options. In the entomology program you’ll study the role of insects in crop production and landscapes, and explore pollination, pest management and more. In the global disease ecology program, you’ll develop and conduct your own research project as you work with a faculty mentor to understand the connections of organisms and species in diverse ecosystems.

EPPN also offers master’s programs in entomology and plant pathology, and a doctoral program in entomology. In these programs you'll work with professors who actively conduct research on a variety of topics and customize your program based on research interests.  

Check out our programs if you’re interested in improving human and animal health, quality of life and the sustainability of our food and ecosystems.

Explore EPPN degrees

• Entomology, B.S.
• Global disease ecology, B.S.
• Entomology, M.S.
• Plant pathology, M.S.
• Entomology, Ph.D.

Get involved

EPPN offers the Aldrich Entomology Club, which promotes knowledge and stimulates interest in insects and their relationships and impacts on the environment, humans and society. In addition, there are more than 30 clubs in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, making it easy to find your passion and get involved. Learn about clubs and organizations.

Discover

Learn what current EPPN students are up to, from internships to undergraduate research projects.

William F. Barr Entomological Museum

The William F. Barr Entomological Museum, located in the Agricultural Sciences Building, houses over one million mounted insect specimens. This collection is used for teaching, research and Extension activities.

Key EPPN research and Extension projects

U of I faculty created the Aphid Tracker to help manage the pea aphid and prevent direct injury to peas and lentils. This project focuses on forecasting aphid and virus incidence, providing decision tools to producers and accelerating breeding for virus resistant pea varieties.

The Idaho Insect Identification project is a free service provided by U of I entomologists to help Idaho citizens identify insects, arachnids or other arthropods throughout the state.

The Institute for Health in the Human Ecosystem is a multidisciplinary and collaborative center for excellence to build a more sustainable human ecosystem through research, teaching and outreach.

The Integrated Pest Management Center provides educational information and resources for the pest management needs of Idaho. The goal of this program is to reduce risks to human health, the environment and the economy caused by pests and pest management practices.  

University of Idaho faculty are leading a national project to eradicate the pale cyst nematode, a serious invasive potato pest.

Faculty in EPPN offer Plant Diagnostic Services, from culturing to molecular diagnostics. They investigate the cause of various plant problems on a range of hosts and provide advice for disease management.

EPPN researchers are studying potato psyllids, small insects that suck plant juices. A potato psyllid monitoring program, funded in part by the Idaho Potato Commission, examines weekly samples for the presence of bacterium transmitted by potato psyllids.

Meet our people

Specialty areas include chemical, biological and community ecology, climate change, nematodes, plant virology, biological control of pests, malaria parasite development, plant pathology, genomics, microbial ecology, biological control of weeds and fungal diseases.

News and events

• EPPN seminars archive