With its growing urban population, rising property values, tourist activity, tropical climate, and frequent insect introductions, Hawaii provides ample opportunity for studies in urban entomology. Both the college and the department have long-standing commitments to urban entomology as a field of graduate study. Courses and/or seminars are currently being developed in the areas of urban entomology and social insect biology.

Through their financial support, the State of Hawaii and the federal government have recognized the need for Hawaii-based research on structural pest biology, ecology, and control. Principal research interests are the behavior, ecology, and control of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Rhinotermitidae), which is a serious structural pest world-wide, and the most important economic pest in Hawaii. The development of effective and environmentally compatible methods of termite control is the goal of ongoing research on C. formosanus. This goal can only be accomplished through an improved understanding of termite colony demographics, foraging behavior (particularly the role of chemical mediation in orientation and feeding), behavioral ecology, colony regulatory mechanisms, and termite communication. Associations of termites with decay fungi and with insect-pathogenic fungi are also active research areas with important applied consequences.

Drywood termites (Kalotermitidae) are also a severe problem in Hawaii, and elsewhere. Research has been initiated on the control of these insects with insecticidal dusts (exploiting grooming behavior), baits, or wood preservatives with low mammalian toxicity. Insect chemical protection are areas of more general research interest. In addition to the technical aspects of urban pest management, the sociological aspects are also of research interest, since these are crucial to the implementation of technical advances.

For more information, visit http://www2.hawaii.edu/~entomol

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