The Emergence Of Urban Entomology In Asia And Its Future

Prior to 1960s, non-crop entomological research in Asia primarily focused on vector-borne diseases like malaria, filariasis, dengue, and typhus, due to limited resources. Early research on urban insect pests in Asia, particularly in the 1960s, centered on cockroaches, examining their feeding behavior and insecticide resistance. Termite research initially focused on species affecting forests and plantations, with most studies conducted by forestry researchers concentrating on taxonomy. The structural pest control industry in Asia began post-WWII in the 1940s. Unlike vector control, which was government-driven, managing urban pests like termites, bed bugs, and rodents was left to individuals. During the 1970s, as socio-economic conditions improved, demand for pest management services grew, but the industry struggled to keep pace with evolving technologies and pest biology, often relying on Western literature with limited relevance to the local context. The pest management industry's challenges drove the rise of urban entomology in Asia in the 1990s. Key developments included academic leadership, phasing out chlordane as a soil termiticide, introducing termite baits, and licensing pest management professionals.