“From Saul To Paul” Urban Pests In Cultural Entomology

Harmful insects like clothes moths and termites occurring in the synanthropic environment are considered pests which need to be controlled. However, human culture has also always widely utilized them as central characters in philosophy, in classic and modern world literature, in music and arts, and much more. This article will highlight some recent exploitations of pest insects in Cultural Entomology. It will provide examples of pieces of art and ephemeral displays with clothes moths and termites as protagonists. The insects´ destructive nature on textiles or wood was turned around to a process of creation with aesthetic, philosophical and metaphoric messages, or simply for unique ways of entertainment. References will be provided to milestones of pest insect use in Cultural Entomology.