New Online Agriculture Course Grows Skills in Identifying Corn, Soybean Field Insects

By Jenna Braasch

One thing is for sure, if there is a farm field, insects will visit it. Having the skills to identify insects inhabiting crop fields across the Midwest improves one’s ability to identify and effectively manage insect pests while avoiding unnecessary interventions that may negatively affect beneficial insects as well as farmer profitability.

Staff from the Department of Crop Sciences, a part of the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Extension, and GROWMARK have made it possible for anyone to gain these identification skills through a recently released free online course titled the Identification of Agriculturally Important Insects for Corn and Soybean. 

Participants from all aspects of agriculture and beyond can register for the self-paced course at Learn @ Illinois Extension and look forward to starting at the basics. The course provides participants with an understanding of insect morphology or physical form as well as tips for identifying insect pest species commonly found across Midwest corn and soybean fields. The course also includes a section on identifying look-a-like species. 

“Being able to properly identify an insect at various corn and soybean growth stages can increase the crop’s chance for survival and overall profitability,” says Nick Seiter, course co-author, ACES assistant professor, and Extension specialist. “Not all insects found in a field will be quantifiable or become harmful to that crop.”

Participants learn through an immersive online experience of 3D model insects that rotate with the hold of a mouse click to explore better angles and specific identifying characteristics. Pop-up annotation cards provide facts and tips, while short quizzes check learning progress along the way. These tools encourage improved understanding and visualization to reflect the experience of seeing the live insect. 

“We’re excited to offer this course to increase awareness and build the skills and confidence needed to increase proper integrated pest management techniques across today’s crop fields,” says Talon Becker, Extension commercial agriculture specialist. 

The course can be accessed directly at go.illinois.edu/FieldInsectID. A Learn @ Illinois Extension account will be required and can be created by clicking the course name at center screen or the Log In button at the top-right of the page, followed by Create an Account near the middle of the login page. The training is also available in Spanish at go.illinois.edu/IDinsectocampo.

The course offers continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisers. Those who complete the course will be provided with a QR code to scan with the Certified Crop Adviser app to obtain 3.0 CEUs in pest management.  

If you have questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Talon Becker at tbecker2@illinois.edu or by phone at 217-300-0576. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.