Urban Entomology @ UCR

Recent Research

Below is a list of some relatively recent research documentation. Feel free to browse the information presented and to contact us if you have any additional questions .

Argentine Ant
An exotic species first reported in California in the early 1900s. Currently, it is the number one household pest in California, and also a pest in agriculture and natural environments.
2000 Greenberg & Klotz Argentine ant trail pheromone 2000 Klotz et al. Toxicity and Repellency of Borate-Sucrose 2002 Klotz et. al. Assimilation and Toxicity of Boron in the Argentine Ant 2004 Klotz et al. In Search of the SweetSpot 2004 Klotz et al. Why Delay When You Bait and Spray 2004 Soeprono and Rust. Effect of Horizontal Tranfer of Barrier Insecticides 2006 Choe and Rust Agonistic Behavior of Argentine Ants to Scales 2006 Choe and Rust.Homopteran Chemical Signatures Reduce Ant Agression 2007 Field et al. A Survey of Structural Ant Pests in the Southwestern USA 2007 Field et al. On Target 2007 Klotz et al. An Evaluation of Several Urban Pest Management

Cockroaches
Cockroaches are an important pest problem in structures wherever food is being prepared, stored or served. The German cockroach shown here with egg case is the most frequently encountered species in California and worldwide.
Relationship Between Insecticide Resistance and Performance Control of American Cockroaches in Sewers The Feasibility of Using Nodified Atmospheres to Control Insect Pests in Museums

Fire Ants
In 1998 these ants were detected in an area covering at least 50 square miles of Orange County. Other outbreaks occurred in the counties of Riverside, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. They also were detected in almond orchards in Kern and Fresno counties.
1999 Greenberg et al Fire Ants in CA 2001 Greenberg et al Fire Ant Pest Note 2003 Greenberg & Klotz Fire ant fact sheet 2003 Greenberg_etal Fipronil trials 2005 Costa etal Response to permethrin treated plastic strips 2006 Greenberg et al. Metaflumizone trials in CA Kabashima et al. Aggression between fire ants and Argentine ants

Fleas
Fleas are not only the most important pest of domesticated cats and dogs worldwide, but also attack calves, sheep, and horses, and have been implicated in the transmission of plague, murine typhus, and human spotted fever.
2003. Rust et al. Efficacy and Longevity of Nitenpyram Against Adult Cat Fleas 2005. Rust et al. Determining a Diagnostic Dose for Imidacloprid Testing of Cat Fleas

Spiders
Most spiders produce venom that is poisonous to their prey, usually insects and other small arthropods; the venom of these spiders is harmless to humans. A few such as black widows and recluse spiders produce venom that is toxic to humans.
Loxoscelism_S&V VetterMilitaryMRSA VetterToxico

Stinging Ants & Kissing Bugs
Stinging ants: It is estimated that up to 5 percent of the population in the United States is allergic to stings of Hymenoptera. In some areas infested with imported fire ants as many as 50% of the population has been stung. For the hypersensitive individual, one sting is sufficient to precipitate an anaphylactic reaction.
Kissing bugs: Also known as Mexican or Texas bed bugs, conenose bugs, and Wallapai tigers, they are the most common cause of anaphylactic reactions to biting insects. Their bite is painless but if you are allergic it can be life threatening.
2005 Consequences of Harvester Ant Incursions Into Urban Areas 2005 Klotz et al. Adverse Reactions to Ants Other Than Imported Fire Ants 2006 Klotz et al. Kissing Bugs & Public Health 2006 Klotz et al. Ants & Public Health

Termites
California is home to subterranean and drywood termites, both major wood-destroying structural pests.
2005. Haagsma and Rust. Effect of hexaflumuron on Mortality 2005. Saran and Rust. Feeding, Uptake, and utilization of Carbohydrates 2006 Saran and Rust. Toxicity, Repellency, and Transfer of Chlorfenapyr 2007 Saran and Rust. Role of (3Z,6Z,8E)-Dodecatrien-1-ol in Trail Following, Feeding, and Mating Behavior 2007. Saran and Rust. Toxicity, Uptake, and transfer Efficiency of Fipronil