Urban Entomology – Fifty Years In The Making

Fifty years have passed since Walter Ebeling published his seminal text on Urban Entomology. Many factors converged in the years following its publication to stimulate interest in the pests associated with urban environments and create the discipline of urban entomology. The rapid urbanization and increase in global trade, invasive pests, and demand for pest management services helped stimulate research and the extension of information on urban pests. Conferences such as the International Conference of Urban Pests highlighted the ongoing research and outreach efforts in urban pest management and helped urban entomology gain its recognition as a discipline. Increased urbanization, global trade, invasive pests, pesticide resistance, and funding for research and outreach activities are some of the major challenges facing urban entomology in the next fifty years.