Row of green butterfly chrysalises hanging from a wooden branch with a blurred natural background.

Insects & Pest Management

Understanding the role of insects in our ecosystems

Insects play a vital role in agriculture, gardening, and natural ecosystems. CSU Extension offers science-based resources for identifying insect species, understanding the role of beneficial insects, and supporting informed decision-making about pest and insect management practices.

Explore resources to help you identify, prevent, and manage insects and pests in your environment, distinguish beneficial species from harmful insects, support pollinators and their habitats, and find actionable, trusted solutions to common insect-related issues.

A monarch butterfly perches on a cluster of small purple flowers in a meadow.