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Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology

Find Your Program

Explore options for studying plant diseases, insects, microorganisms, and global diseases.

Winter Break - PPEM Office

Winter Break: December 22, 2025 – Jan. 20, 2026

University Closure Days: December 24-26, 2025; January 1, 2026; and January 19, 2026

PPEM Business Office:

The office will have limited staffing from December 22, 2025, to January 5, 2026.

Biology IT Holiday Hours:

The Biology IT office in #0537 SCI 2 will be closed from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026. The Biology IT office will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., January 5 – 16, 2026.

Biology IT will be available by email at biologyit@iastate.edu, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., on non-closure days. Biology IT does not offer turn on service for computers or equipment - please make sure you have someone designated in your lab group or office who can perform this service if needed.

ATRB Building:

The ATRB Building is scheduled to lock on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 5 p.m. and unlock on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 7 a.m.  Access will be authorized card access only.

plant disease

Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic

Have a plant disease or pest problem?

The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) is here to look at your specimen and provide you with a diagnostic report of plant problems and the identification of insects from the field, garden, and home.

Halloween pennant dragonfly

Minor in Insect Science

Study Entomology

An Insect Science minor provides a foundation in the biological sciences with an emphasis on insects.

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BugGuide

Images and information for insects, spiders & their kin

An online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures, BugGuide creates a knowledge base to help the online community. 

pictures of the memorial union on campus

The PPEM Fall 2025 Newsletter is here!

Our students, staff, and faculty have been busy -- be sure to check out the full newsletter for more details! 

Upcoming Events

BugWerks Book Club presents "A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons" by Kate Khavari Details: February 11th from 4:45 to 6pm in the ATRB Atrium
All events
field

North Central IPM Center

Where science, programming, and education unite to protect the Midwest from harmful pests

A science-based approach to integrated pest management (IPM) in order to reduce risks to people, food supply and the environment. By using pest biology, environmental information and all other available technologies, we strive to reduce pest damage to tolerable levels, through the most economical means. 

Learn more