Entomology 10
	URBAN ENTOMOLOGY

I. Urbanites and Urban Entomology

1. Concentration of human populations in urban areas
   1. Insects and humans coexist for long time
   2. Buildings (homes, apartments, offices, etc.) favorable habitat for insects
   3. Humans and unprocessed or processed foods
   4. Humans and plants - aesthetic value
      1. House plants and cut flowers
      2. Landscape plants
2. Changing attitudes
   1. Before chemical pesticides, humans accepted insects in the home - coexist with insects because no other alternative
   2. With advanced technology, reduced encounters with insects and other animals - urbanites less tolerant of insects
   3. The "perfect" product demanded by populous
3. Meeting the demands of urbanites
   1. Stores with "perfect" product
   2. Household pesticides - big business ($800 million per year)
   3. Nursery and floriculture production - number 3 agricultural commodity in California
      Can you guess what commodities are number 1 and 2?
      Hint: they are not plants.
   4. Home pest control service - termites alone $1 billion per year in California
4. Need for consumer awareness - education

II. Important Insect Pests in California Homes and Other Buildings

1. Cockroaches
   1. World-wide distribution
   2. Long-lived adults; long life cycle
   3. Egg cases = ootheca
   4. Pest species ranking
      1. German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
      2. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) primarily in restaurants
      3. Brownbanded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
      4. Oriental cockroach (Blattella orientalis)
   5. Management
      1. Sanitation
      2. Insecticides
      3. Traps - thigmotactic
      4. Biological control - not yet effective
2. Stored product pests
   1. Confused and red flour beetles (Tribolium spp.)
   2. Granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius)
   3. Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) - chocolate bars
   4. Mediterranean flour moth (Anagasta kuehniella)
   5. Management
      1. Sanitation
      2. Insect proof (tight jars, plastic bags, freezer, etc)
3. Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)
   1. Most common, aggressive species in houses - trail pheromone
   2. Feeds on sugars, proteins and fats
   3. Summer - "tends" aphids, scales for honeydew, interfere with parasitoids
   4. Autumn and winter - invades buildings
   5. Multiple queens in nest
   6. Management
      1. Pesticide spray - Organophosphate (Dursban)
      2. Pesticide baits - sugar baits
      3. Boiling water
      4. Examine house plants
      5. Sanitation
4. House plant pests
   1. Aphids
   2. Whiteflies
   3. Management
      1. Clean plants from store
      2. Soap wash
      3. Pesticides (?) - too many dangers in closed environment - spray outside
      4. Start over
5. Structural pests - termites
   1. Drywood termites
   2. Subterranean termites
      1. Proper monitoring
      2. Fumigation
      3. Pesticides

Study question:

1. Can urbanites ever be free from insect pests? Why or why not?

Gullan and Cranston:

pp 3-7 (Insects as food),
pp 219-220 (Cockroaches).

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