You lift the lid of the hive slowly.
The sound changes immediately. A low, steady hum rises as thousands of honey bees adjust to the sudden light. You watch their movement before you touch anything: How they cluster. How they fan their wings. Whether the colony feels calm or off.
This is what an apiary inspector does before a single frame is pulled.
Apiary inspection isn’t just about opening bee hives. It’s about reading them and spotting subtle signs of stress, disease or imbalance before they spread beyond a single colony.
So how do apiary inspectors go from beekeeping enthusiasts to trained professionals doing regulatory or inspection work? We’ll break it all down for you in this guide.
Here’s how to become an apiary inspector.
An apiary inspector’s primary role is to monitor the health of honey bee colonies and prevent the spread of regulated diseases and pests. This work protects individual beekeepers, surrounding apiaries and larger pollination systems that food production depends on.
Common responsibilities include:
Much of the job happens in the field, where inspectors open hives and analyze colonies in real time. When they’re not acting as first responders for each hive’s thousands of bees, apiary inspectors document findings, advise beekeepers and coordinate with agricultural agencies.
Sure, honey bees produce honey. But their real value goes far beyond the bear-shaped jar at the grocery store.
Honey bees pollinate crops that support both local agriculture and global food systems. In fact, bees pollinate about 75% of the world’s food crops, particularly fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. When colonies decline, the effects ripple outward, impacting farmers, ecosystems and food availability globally.
Apiary inspectors help reduce those risks by catching problems early, before they spread or escalate. Early detection helps to:
Inspecting bee hives requires more than comfort around bees (and a tolerance for the occasional sting). Successful inspectors often have:
Many inspectors are also trained apiculturists. They bring extensive knowledge to the role, including hands-on experience with colony management and an eye for subtle changes in behavior or brood patterns: skills essential for effective hive inspections.
While there’s no single “apiary inspector” degree program, there is a clear academic pathway.
Most professionals in this role study:
Wondering if you can Google a few search terms and figure things out as you go? You’ll get some foundational knowledge that way, but for apiary inspectors, formal education matters.
Apiary inspection is diagnostic in nature. Inspectors need to recognize symptoms of diseases like American foulbrood or infestations like varroa mites, understand their causes and recommend appropriate responses—before problems spread.
Learn more about our online beekeeping graduate programs.
There’s no single, rigid path to becoming an apiary inspector. Requirements vary by state, employer and individual background, but most professionals follow a similar progression.
Coursework in entomology provides essential knowledge of insect physiology, behavior and disease. This prepares you to identify pests, recognize signs of colony stress and understand how environmental factors affect hive health.
Hands-on experience with apiary beekeeping helps you understand how healthy colonies function (and how stressed ones don’t).
Many aspiring inspectors start by:
If you’re interested in a long-term or regulatory-focused career, consider pursuing graduate-level training in entomology or beekeeping. Advanced education can strengthen your ability to assess hive health, interpret findings and apply research-backed solutions.
Apiary inspectors are often employed or contracted through state departments of agriculture. Hiring requirements vary by state, but employers typically use scientific training and documented beekeeping experience to evaluate qualifications.
From emerging pathogens to environmental stressors, the pressures honey bees face continue to evolve. Apiary inspectors stay current by:
No two days are identical — and that’s part of the appeal of being an apiary inspector. One day, you’re opening hives in the field; the next, you’re reviewing inspection notes and advising beekeepers on next steps.
The day-to-day work of an apiary inspector depends on location, season and colony health. A typical day may include:
It’s physical work. It’s analytical work. And it’s deeply rooted in applied science.
For many honey bee enthusiasts, curiosity doesn’t stay a side interest for long.
At the University of Florida, you can turn your passion into professional training through a fully online graduate credential in entomology. Choose an online 30-credit master’s degree or a focused online 15-credit graduate certificate in beekeeping — both designed for working professionals and able to be completed in as little as one year.
Interested in what comes next?
Explore what UF’s entomology graduates are doing — and how they experienced the program.
Every neighborhood has that one yard: lush lawn, trimmed hedges, wraparound porch. It’s the envy of everyone who drives past, but you know something? Pollinators hate it. Bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators are essential for biodiversity and pollinating the crops that feed us. But to do their job, they need shelter and reliable food sources. Your yard could…
“Conservation isn’t just a business of a few people, it’s a matter that concerns all of us.” —Walt Disney The link between The Walt Disney Company and the natural world runs deep. From Disney’s Animal Kingdom to its acclaimed “Disneynature” documentaries, the company has long worked to inspire a love of nature through storytelling and entertainment. What may…
You lift the lid of the hive slowly. The sound changes immediately. A low, steady hum rises as thousands of honey bees adjust to the sudden light. You watch their movement before you touch anything: How they cluster. How they fan their wings. Whether the colony feels calm or off. This is what an apiary…
Have you ever felt pulled in two very different career directions — like wanting to be both a hair stylist and a lab technician?
Okay, that’s a far-fetched example, but humor us. At first glance, the pairing might seem impossible. But careers that appear unrelated can sometimes overlap, especially when science is involved.
Here’s a real-world example: public health and entomology. One field focuses on improving human well-being, the other centers on the close study of insects. Together, they create a unique, vital discipline: public health entomology. Specialists in this field — people who study insects with a focus on human health — work at the intersection of bugs and people, tackling everything from global disease outbreaks to local pest management.
If you’re fascinated by insects (especially those that spread disease) and want a career that combines science, problem-solving and community impact, public health entomology could be your ideal path.
Public health entomology is the study of insects (like mosquitoes, ticks and flies) that directly affect human health. These insects aren’t just annoying; they can spread serious diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever and Lyme disease.
Public health entomologists (often known as medical entomologists) study the life cycles, habitats and behaviors of insects to develop strategies that prevent disease transmission and protect communities before outbreaks occur.
Medical entomologists aren’t just observing insect behaviors. They’re on the front lines, keeping communities safe from the chaos that six- and eight-legged critters could cause if left unchecked.
So, how do they do it? These professionals:
Their work often combines field studies and laboratory research, spanning government agencies, hospitals and educational programs.
Careers in public health entomology involve a wide range of roles, from hands-on fieldwork to community education and policy consulting. Each role plays a critical part in protecting people from vector-borne diseases and improving our understanding of insect behavior.
Here’s a closer look at five key career paths.
Public health entomologists are essential for protecting communities from insect-borne diseases. They study insects like mosquitoes and ticks, tracking populations, observing habitats and analyzing behaviors to understand how these bugs transmit illnesses.
Key responsibilities include:
This role forms the foundation for more specialized careers in the field, offering a mix of fieldwork, lab research, problem-solving and public health impact.
Research scientists in entomology focus on uncovering the biology, behavior and disease transmission patterns of insects. Unlike public health entomologists, who blend fieldwork, community engagement and applied prevention, research scientists dive deep into experiments — both in the lab and the field — to discover new insights about disease vectors.
Key responsibilities include:
Many research scientists work for universities, government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or private research organizations. This role often requires a master’s or doctorate in entomology, biology or public health and is central to developing evidence-based strategies for disease prevention.
While research scientists focus on how insects spread diseases, vector control specialists work to reduce populations of disease-carrying insects to lower the risk of outbreaks. Their work blends fieldwork and data analysis using tools such as:
Some also take part in community outreach, helping residents understand why and how they should carry out control methods. Vector control specialists often work for local or state health departments, mosquito control districts or international health organizations.
Public health educators translate scientific research into practical guidance for the public. Their “students” include:
Educators design campaigns, run workshops, create educational materials and develop school programs to prevent insect-borne illnesses. Their goal is to raise awareness and change behavior in diverse populations.
If your interests lean more entrepreneurial, consulting can be a rewarding public health entomology path. Consultants use their expertise to advise clients on insect control and disease prevention strategies, in areas like:
If one of these career paths sounds like a match for you, you’ll need a strong foundation in biology and entomology. Most entry-level positions require a bachelor’s degree in entomology, biology or a related field. Advanced roles, like research scientist or consultant, typically call for a master’s or doctoral degree.
At the University of Florida, we offer four distinct graduate entomology specializations:
You can choose from a 30-credit master’s degree in one of our specializations or a 15-credit graduate degree. Both are entirely online, and either option allows you to focus on courses that matter to your future career, like Advanced Mosquito Biology.
Ready to take the next step? Apply now or check out our frequently asked questions to explore which specialization aligns with your career goals.
If you find yourself adding an extra layer of bug spray before your evening walks or instinctively swatting at every passing mosquito, your heightened vigilance is justified. Cases of vector-borne diseases have surged in recent years. There were over one million cases between 2001 and 2023 in the United States alone—and that number only includes…
Insects were first shown to transmit human disease, or “vector-borne diseases,” in 1877. After their discovery, experts used this newfound knowledge to make global efforts in preventing and controlling the transmission of vector-borne diseases. By the 1960s, vector-borne diseases were considered to be controlled in all areas outside of Africa. However, the past 50 years has seen a…
Ever seen one of these up close? You might not realize it, but this little insect is one of the world’s most successful — and most troublesome — invaders. Meet the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) If nature had a supervillain the size of a sesame seed, it would look exactly like the Asian tiger…
Whether you’re captivated by true crime documentaries or a devoted fan of the long-running series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” you’ve likely glimpsed the gritty realities of crime scenes: the blood, the yellow tape … and the maggots feasting on the recently deceased.
If you’re passionate about insects and the intricacies of criminal investigations, why not combine these interests into a unique career? As a forensic entomologist, you’ll immerse yourself in fascinating scientific investigation, both in the field and behind the microscope. With insects as your muses, you’ll help uncover crucial details about homicides including time of death and potential crime locations.
Forensic entomologists use their unique entomological skillset to assist in legal investigations, often those featuring decomposing bodies. With the assistance of insects around the scene of the crime, they provide essential insights that help solve cases, particularly when traditional methods of estimating the time of death are not viable.
Some of their daily responsibilities include:
A career as a forensic entomologist is a lucrative one, with a national average salary of approximately $88,000 per year. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job outlook for the related role of forensic science technicians is expected to grow by 14% through 2033: a rate that’s substantially higher than the national average.
Being a forensic scientist is like blending the precision of science with the interpretative skill of art. Behind every insect feeding on a decomposing body is a critical clue that can reveal insights into a crime scene. In forensic entomology, experts use the life cycle and development stages of insects — usually blowflies and carrion beetles — to determine a PMI.
After death, bodies go through five stages of decomposition:
Each stage attracts a unique set of insects. Blowflies, for instance, are often the first to arrive, drawn to the body by bodily fluids and gases released during early decomposition.
As time passes, beetles and other insects follow, often feeding on both the decaying tissue and fly larvae already present. This predictable succession of insect colonization allows forensic scientists to pinpoint the decomposition stage and estimate the PMI, leading the investigative team one step closer to understanding the circumstances of the death.
There are several steps to check off on the journey toward becoming a forensic entomologist:
If you’re ready to deepen your expertise in entomology for a dynamic role as a forensic entomologist — or another career in entomology — the University of Florida’s online graduate programs in entomology offer specialized courses that go beyond basic biology. As an online student, you’ll study insect behavior, ecology and identification in detail, giving your resume an edge as you work toward your professional goals.
Our online master’s degree in entomology offers four distinct specializations, allowing you to hone in on a particular area of interest in entomology while also gaining a strong foundation in general entomology:
For students aiming to specialize in one area, we also offer 15-credit graduate certificates in the same focus areas. As the world’s top-ranked entomology and nematology program, UF provides both depth and flexibility in online learning, ensuring a thorough understanding of entomology while making it possible to complete your coursework on your schedule.
Ready to make a change in your career? Apply today!
Sources:
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Forensic-Entomologist-Salary
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/forensic-science-technicians.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549867
There’s been a murder! The victim lies lifeless, and without a witness, murder weapon or DNA evidence, this case may be impossible to crack. But fear not, investigators have an unexpected ally: forensic entomologists.
Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of forensic entomology: the study of the application of insects and other arthropods found at crime scenes that help investigators solve mysteries. While their methods may seem farfetched, these specialists are invaluable in criminal investigations.
Fair Warning: This subject is captivating but not for the squeamish!
When someone dies, their body begins to decompose in a process called autolysis. Soft tissues break down, releasing volatile molecules called apeneumones. The release of apeneumones like carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia acts like a dinner bell to insects, attracting them and altering their behavior.
This predictable process, wherein insects arrive and lay eggs, allows forensic entomologists to glean all sorts of information from a corpse, including:
Time of death, for example, can be estimated by observing blow flies. These insects are remarkable for their keen sense of smell, allowing them to locate a body in as little as ten minutes.
Blow flies arrive on the scene and lay eggs on the body. The eggs hatch into maggots, which feed, grow and molt through several stages until they pupate. During pupation, they form a hardened shell and metamorphose into adult flies.
By identifying the species of fly and determining their life stage, forensic entomologists can estimate the time of death. This isn’t an exact science, however. Factors like temperature, location and the condition of the body can influence the development of these insects. This complexity is why forensic entomology is such a vital and specialized field.
The first recorded use of insects to solve a crime dates back to 13th-century China. After a farmer was found murdered, the suspects were asked to place their sickles on the ground. Remarkably, blow flies swarmed one particular sickle, which had been cleaned but still bore invisible traces of blood. Faced with this damning evidence, the sickle’s owner confessed to the murder. (Can you imagine being that guy? So close to getting away with murder, only to be undone by an entirely new field of science.) This ingenious use of insect behavior marked the birth of forensic entomology.
Modern Forensic Entomology
Fast forward to 19th-century France, when the field took another significant step forward. A doctor examined the remains of a child found in an apartment building, discovering fly larvae and moth pupae. He understood their life cycles and concluded that the child had died eight to ten months prior. This crucial information led investigators to rule out the apartment’s current occupants and focus on the murderers, a couple who had lived there months earlier.
Today, police departments have forensic laboratories and investigators at their disposal, yet forensic entomology remains a rare specialty. In the United States, fewer than 20 people are accredited by the American Board of Forensic Entomology.
Forensic entomology is a unique blend of insect study and crime-solving. It’s incredible how tiny bugs can unravel big mysteries, like establishing time of death or identifying where a crime took place. If you’re intrigued by this field and want to learn more, consider the University of Florida’s online entomology programs.
UF offers online master’s degrees and graduate certificates with specializations in medical entomology, landscape pest management, urban pest management and beekeeping. But we’re going to focus on our medical entomology options.
Our online medical entomology programs provide a solid foundation in entomology, insect classification and ecological concepts. These programs are ideal for future ecologists, biologists and, of course, forensic entomologists. While you’ll eventually need a Ph.D. in entomology to become a forensic entomologist, our online programs offer a great starting point.
To get a better idea of what our programs offer, check out Graduate Survey of Entomology. This course serves as an introduction to insect anatomy and physiology. By the end of the course, students should be able to identify common insects and explain their movements, digestion and appearance.
Whether you’re looking to advance your career or just love learning about insects, our flexible online courses are a perfect fit. Check out UF’s online entomology programs and see where your passion can take you!
Sources:
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/murder-maggots-forensic-entomology.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientist-using-bugs-help-solve-murders-180983463/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296382/
When you hear children talk about what they want to be when they grow up, you often hear responses like “firefighter” or “teacher,” with the occasional “magical princess” thrown in for good measure. What you’re much less likely to hear from a five-year-old is something like, “I want to be a vector control specialist.”
But if you were once a child enamored by the fascinating lives of insects, a career in entomology might have felt like a calling long before you knew what the word meant.
There are a plethora of careers to choose from in this dynamic field, and today we’re exploring five entomology careers you may have not yet considered.
If you were a fan of the show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” or one of its many spin-off series, you may have imagined what it would be like to be part of the forensic crew investigating an active crime scene.
With a background in insect biology, you could play the crucial role of forensic entomologist. In this capacity, one of your primary responsibilities would involve analyzing the insects found at the scene of a homicide, typically on or near the victim, to determine that victim’s estimated time and manner of death.
Other responsibilities of forensic entomologists include:
If you’re an avid hiker, you’re probably familiar with the routine of performing tick checks after a day spent in the woods, meticulously examining exposed skin to ensure no ticks have latched on. This precaution is crucial because ticks can harbor Borrelia bacteria, the culprit behind Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is just one of many conditions that can be transmitted to humans by insects. Mosquitoes, fleas and other insects also carry microbes that can cause potentially harmful diseases in humans.
That’s where medical entomologists come in. They investigate the following three organisms and play a fundamental role in reducing the transmission of vector-borne diseases:
Could you combine your passion for photography with your fascination with insects and turn it into a career? Quite possibly! Insect photographers capture images of insects and other arthropods for a variety of purposes, including:
Because insects’ focal points are smaller than your average subject, insect photographers use specialized equipment to highlight the intricate details of an insect’s morphology, its behaviors and its natural habitats. Insect photographers often work as freelancers for magazines, scientific publications, textbooks and more.
Some beekeeping hobbyists aspire to turn their leisurely pastime into a career. Those who’ve worked with bees at a larger scale have the potential to become apiary managers, the individuals responsible for overseeing the operation of multiple beekeeping facilities, often for commercial purposes.
Some of their responsibilities include:
When it comes to growing large quantities of produce, there are a few types of minute menaces with the potential to significantly decrease the crop’s yield. From aphids to crickets, these small but hungry insects have the power to wreak havoc on an upcoming harvest.
Thanks to agricultural pest management specialists, however, there are still plenty of freshly picked in-season fruits and veggies to choose from in your local produce section. This is largely due to the ability of these professionals to control the pests that damage large-scale crops.
But how do agricultural pest management specialists do it?
They implement integrated pest management programs that control pests while minimizing the use of pesticides, primarily by:
Whether you’re a entomology veteran that wants to advance in your current role or you’re new to the industry and want to gain a foundation of knowledge before entering the workforce, the University of Florida offers several online graduate programs tailored to your unique interests and professional goals.
Both our graduate degree and graduate certificate programs offer four optional specialties:
By choosing any of the above specialties, you’ll earn a 15-credit graduate certificate as part of your 30-credit graduate degree. The graduate certificate program includes specific courses tailored to each specialty, while the graduate degree program expands on these courses with an additional 15 credits, providing you with a broad understanding of entomology.
Secure your spot for next semester and apply today!
Sources:
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/forensic-entomology-use-insects-investigation-homicide-and-untimely
https://www.entsoc.org/resources/education/hall
Agriculture has a workforce most people never see (and no, it’s not just agronomists or agricultural engineers). It’s insects. Quietly and consistently — without paychecks or benefits — insects pollinate crops, control pest populations and help food systems function. Understanding their role goes beyond appreciation. It’s a reminder that biodiversity in agriculture depends on more than what we plant in the field. …
Insects can’t be trained — at least not in the way you’re thinking of. No pats on the head for fetching a tiny ball or flying to a certain spot on command. But research on hoverflies is challenging what entomologists thought they knew about insect learning. These small, bee-mimicking insects are helping researchers understand how visual information shapes decision-making…
Disaster preparedness planning usually focuses on evacuation routes, emergency supply kits and shelter plans. Insects rarely make the list. But after a hurricane or flood, insect populations aren’t waiting for communities to catch up. Mosquito numbers spike. New breeding sites appear overnight. Disease risks increase. That’s why entomology plays a crucial role in emergency management planning. By monitoring insect populations and identifying potential disease…
Ever wonder how that golden honey makes the journey from hive to jar as you drizzle it over your favorite sweet treats? Beekeepers play an essential role in not only ensuring the health of the hive (and all its buzzing inhabitants) but also the removal of honey once it’s ready for extraction.
But what do beekeepers do all day? Are they permanently stationed alongside the hive, clad in their beekeeping suit, dipping their gloved hands into the bee boxes in search of honey?
While you won’t find beekeepers elbow-deep in hives, you can find them geared up in their bee suits, attentively nurturing their 60,000 to 80,000 little friends, especially in the wee hours of the morning.
Join us as we explore a day in the life of a beekeeper.
Many full-time beekeepers begin their journeys as enthusiastic hobbyists. They often read insightful books to gain a better understanding of the practice and enroll in beekeeping courses to familiarize themselves with the fundamentals.
Once they feel equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills, aspiring beekeepers sometimes seek out experienced mentors who are willing to guide them through hands-on learning experiences. This allows them to ask questions and learn at their own pace until they’re comfortable moving to the next phase of beekeeping: managing their own hive.
For both hobbyists and professional beekeepers, when it’s time to inspect the hives, the day begins early. And we mean early—sometimes before sunrise. Beekeepers start their days at the crack of dawn because as the temperatures rise, the bees become more active, making them more agitated and defensive.
But before heading into the apiary, beekeepers don their protective clothing, including a veil, gloves and a bee suit, to avoid any potential stings. Then, smoker in hand, they light a slow-burning fuel in the chamber, creating a consistent flow of white smoke from its nozzle.
Before opening the hive, they’ll aim the smoke toward the entrance to the hive, effectively tricking the bees into thinking their hive is on fire. To outsiders, it may seem like a cruel practice, but the smoke is cool and nonintrusive, and it’s an effective way to distract the bees while the beekeepers inspect their hives, looking for the following:
Hive inspections typically occur once every two weeks during the active season. In addition to checking for the above criteria inside the hive, beekeepers also take time to sanitize and maintain their hive tools and check the integrity of their spare hive boxes and frames. If necessary, they’ll swap out old frames for new ones or perform hive splits to manage a growing population.
The timing of harvesting varies depending on a beekeeper’s location but generally occurs around mid-to-late summer. If this is a beekeeper’s first year with their hive, beekeepers typically refrain from harvesting the honey their bees produce, as the collective hive often relies on this supply to survive through the winter.
After that first year, however, beekeepers can comfortably begin harvesting their hive’s honey, which can amount to a whopping 25 to 100 pounds, depending on factors such as the hive’s strength and the floral sources the bees were using to forage.
To harvest the honey, beekeepers begin by removing the bees from the frames of honey supers (a section of the beehive that stores honey) using a clearer board. Then, they’ll uncap the sealed honey cells with a serrated knife. From there, they put the uncapped frames inside a honey extractor (a clever cyclical contraption that spins the frames, flinging honey onto the side of the extractor). From there, the honey pools at the bottom, where the beekeepers can collect it in its rawest, most delectable form.
Whether you’re just digging into the early stages of beekeeping fundamentals or you’re a seasoned apiary interested in learning more advanced skills, the University of Florida offers two unique online graduate programs that will help you gain the knowledge needed to begin or advance your career in the world of beekeeping:
Graduate Certificate in Beekeeping
This flexible 15-credit online program lets you choose from a wide range of elective courses depending on your interests and career path, including Graduate Survey of Entomology, Insect Toxicology, and Ecology and Conservation of Pollinators. You can complete the online coursework in as little as three semesters from almost anywhere with an internet connection.
Master’s Degree in Entomology and Nematology, Specializing in Beekeeping
This 30-credit online program provides a broad education on entomology topics while allowing you to focus on your area of interest: beekeeping. In addition, after you finish the program, you’ll graduate with not one, but two credentials: a master’s degree in entomology and nematology and a graduate certificate in beekeeping.
At UF, we offer year-round start dates, affordable tuition costs and asynchronous classes that make learning on your busy schedule a cinch. Take the first step toward turning your hobby into a career. Apply today!
Sources:
https://www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/honeybee-hive
https://newsroom.co.nz/2021/12/13/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-beekeeper/
https://bee-health.extension.org/seasonality-of-brood-and-adult-populations-basic-bee-biology-for-beekeepers/
https://www.miller-mfg.com/blog/when-to-harvest-honey/
https://www.perfectbee.com/a-healthy-beehive/reaping-the-rewards/how-much-honey-can-a-hive-produce
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but humans don’t rule the world; insects do. There are about 1.4 billion insects for every person. By virtue of their sheer numbers, insects and other arthropods have an incredible influence on society, especially on human health. Most insects are beneficial, necessary even, but there are some like the malaria-spreading anopheline mosquito that are downright dangerous.
We share our world with all manner of crawling, flying and, worst of all, biting insects that carry and spread disease. With so many insect vectors, we must rely on medical entomologists to prevent and mitigate the spread of Lyme disease, West Nile virus and other vector-borne diseases. Unfortunately, as vectors are posing an increasing threat and medical entomologists are needed more than ever, the world is running out of these indispensable scientists.
What happened to all the medical entomologists, and why isn’t there nearly enough interest in this growing field? Let’s find out.
There simply aren’t enough up-and-coming professionals to replace older generations of medical entomologists. “As professors have retired, they have been replaced with people who don’t have the practical field and control experience or even interest,” said CDC medical entomologist Janet McAllister. This leaves the field in desperate need of young professionals with a passion for public health.
Students interested in pursuing an entomology career may not have access to the proper training. Mapping of entomology courses in 2016 revealed that most courses are only offered on-site in North America, specifically the U.S., to the detriment of low-and middle-income countries hit hardest by vector-borne diseases.
Online Entomology Programs
Fortunately, online entomology programs are available for professionals interested in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to protect people from mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and other insect vectors for disease. Entomology programs like those offered by the University of Florida are entirely online and flexible enough to accommodate the schedules of international students, regardless of their time zone. There’s perhaps no better option for students interested in addressing vector-borne diseases in their country.
Students who do pursue academic- or research-based careers tend to take a broad course of study to qualify for a wide range of careers, rather than specializing in a specific subject like medical entomology that could help them land their dream job.
“We need people who can go out in a village, town or jungle and figure out what a disease is, where is it coming from, what’s the host, what’s the vector, and what the heck can we do about it,” medical entomologist Jerome Goddard told Time magazine. “There are hardly any of these people.” Without a new generation of medical entomologists, the world is left to fend for itself against insects that can spread illness and disease with a single bite.
We Need Medical Entomologists Now More Than Ever
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that vector-borne diseases are responsible for over 700,000 deaths annually. Malaria alone results in over 400,000 deaths every year, with the majority of deaths occurring in young children. Hundreds of millions of people are affected by vector-borne diseases every year. If these numbers seem startling, brace yourself — they could very well get worse.
International travel and urbanization are leading to an increasing number of vector-borne disease outbreaks in new countries. The 2015 Zika outbreak in the U.S., for example, began when infected travelers returned from Zika-affected countries. It’s climate change, however, that may be the most concerning contributing factor to the spread of vectors.
Global temperatures have risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the preindustrial era. That might not seem like much, but insects are cold-blooded and thrive in warm weather. As temperatures rise, vectors will increasingly cozy up to previously inhospitable regions. We’re already seeing this in North America, where the Asian tiger mosquito, a vector for dengue and other diseases, threatens to move northward into Canada from the United States. In Europe, European wood ticks (Ixodes ricinus), a vector for Lyme disease, are becoming more comfortable in colder regions and higher altitudes.
Insect vectors, and the diseases they carry, will continue to trek into countries and regions without the public health capacities needed to combat them. Without medical entomologists to study vectors and mitigate outbreaks, the insects and arthropods we share our world with will take an ever-increasing toll on human life.
Interested in making a difference in the lives of those most affected by vector-borne diseases? The University of Florida’s online entomology program may be is right for you. Ranked the number-one entomology program in the world according to the Center for World University Rankings, our program welcomes domestic and international students with a passion for insect science and its influence on nature, agriculture and human health.
The University of Florida offers a medical entomology master’s degree and graduate certificate designed for students interested in learning how to apply the principles and practices of integrated pest management (IPM) in the public sector. Courses are entirely online, allowing students from all over the world to participate, and include:
Specialization options in landscape pest management and urban pest management are also available. Regardless of your chosen specialization, you’ll gain foundational knowledge of entomology, insect classification and ecological concepts as part of one of the largest entomology departments in the world. No other university offers an experience quite like the one you’ll have as an online student at the University of Florida.
Explore our online programs to learn more about what the University of Florida has to offer, or apply now if you’re ready to devote your life to the study of insects and vector-borne diseases.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471492217301344
https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/vector-borne-diseases-2/assessment
https://www.cpha.ca/climate-change-and-vector-borne-illness
Insect bites may seem like little more than an annoyance. However, for billions of people around the world, a single bite could mean contracting a debilitating and potentially deadly disease. Mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, malaria and Zika affect millions of people around the world. With each passing year, the threat of diseases spread by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other arthropods increases, while our ability to predict and prevent their spread decreases.
Medical entomologists are dedicated to eliminating vector-borne diseases by surveying and managing the insects and other arthropods that cause them — and they’re needed now more than ever. There’s just one problem: professionals with a master’s degree or graduate certificate in medical entomology are increasingly rare in the public health field. Let’s take a look at what their absence means for the billions of people around the world at risk of contracting a vector-borne disease.
The World’s Deadliest Animal
When you think of the world’s deadliest creature, do you think of a tiger stalking through the jungle or a viper slithering through the underbrush? Believe it or not, the mosquito is the world’s deadliest animal. These pervasive creatures have killed approximately 50 billion people over the course of human history.
Part of what makes mosquitoes so dangerous is their appetite for human blood. During a blood meal, bloodsucking mosquitoes ingest disease-causing microorganisms. The now infectious mosquito is then able to transmit the pathogen to new hosts with each bite. Malaria, spread by Anopheles mosquitoes, causes over 400,000 worldwide deaths alone each year. Although this deadly disease has remained a steadfast threat throughout human history, it was an outbreak of the usually non-fatal Zika virus that showed just how vulnerable the United States is when medical entomologists are in short supply.
The Zika Outbreak
Travelers from the Caribbean arrived in Miami with an unknown stowaway in 2016. One of the travelers was infected with the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus known for causing serious birth defects including fetal loss, stillbirth and preterm birth. All it took was the bite of one female mosquito to begin the spread of the virus, and thousands of cases were soon reported — not in a remote tropical region, but in our own backyard. According to Benjamin Beard, deputy director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The nation’s state of preparedness for vector-borne diseases had just been neglected and wasn’t where it needed to be.”
The U.S. was caught off guard by the Zika outbreak in part because of a decline in the number of trained medical entomologists. At the time of the outbreak, the CDC only had 11 entomologists and was forced to begin a frantic search for insect scientists able to investigate the outbreak. Five months and 1,200 cases later, the Zika outbreak was drastically reduced. The ordeal may have ended far sooner had there been more medical entomologists on hand.
More Outbreaks to Come
As frightening as the Zika outbreak may have been, the prevalence of vector-borne illnesses will only increase in the coming years. International commerce and travelers are allowing vectors and dangerous pathogens to spread to new regions. Mosquitoes continue to adapt to the sprawling urban environments where more and more people have taken up residence.
As if that wasn’t enough, climate change is also creating more favorable environments for vectors. Longer seasons and warmer conditions are allowing insects to thrive in new regions and spread disease over longer periods of time, and the U.S. is already seeing an increase in vector-borne illnesses as a result.
According to the CDC, the number of disease cases from mosquito, tick and flea bites has tripled in the U.S. from 2004 to 2016, with more than 640,000 cases reported over that time period. In addition to recent outbreaks of Zika, chikungunya and West Nile virus, the U.S. is dealing with the growing threat of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness, and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare but often fatal mosquito-borne illness that causes swelling of the brain. Both diseases are on the rise as their vectors expand to new territories across the U.S.
A Desperate Need for Medical Entomologists
As cases continue to skyrocket, the number of entomologists trained to combat the spread of vector-borne diseases is diminishing. Despite having 12,000 employees on staff, the CDC still only employs 13 medical entomologists. According to CDC medical entomologist Janet McAllister, “As professors have retired, they have been replaced with people who don’t have the practical field and control experience or even interest.”
The lack of access to a first-rate education may have something to do with the scarcity of medical entomologists. Very few institutions offer entomology courses, let alone degree programs focused solely on medical entomology. At the University of Florida, we believe that as long as students are provided with an affordable, accessible pathway to learning, there will always be professionals interested in studying vectors and vector-borne diseases.
Join the Next Generation of Medical Entomologists
UF offers the number-one ranked entomology and nematology program in the world according to the Center for World University Rankings. Prospective students can choose to pursue either a graduate certificate or a master’s degree, each of which offers three specialization options. Both graduate paths offer entirely online classes where students learn about the principles and practices of pest management in the public health sector.
The world needs insect scientists capable of surveying emerging threats and predicting the spread of vector-borne diseases. Apply to one of UF’s online medical entomology programs and join the next generation of medical entomologists.
Sources:
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/70/4/281/5739314
https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=61vuCAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=importance+of+medical+entomology&ots=AcB5sLpDtZ&sig=InCv5sPCXk138iU6QS8pbtZyzyo#v=onepage&q&f=false
https://time.com/5144257/fewer-scientists-studying-insects-entomology/
https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/vector-borne/index.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases
https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/stories/world-deadliest-animal.html
Entomology and nematology are comprehensive scientific fields that provide a wide range of career paths and work environments, including government agencies, research laboratories, the military, postsecondary institutions and field research. By completing a master’s degree or graduate certificate in entomology and nematology, you’ll develop an in-demand skill set and expand your access to a diverse array of related occupations, including the jobs listed in this article.
These career options will require an educated, motivated workforce to take on crucial entomological and nematological research and improve our understanding of the relationship between insects and the environment, the connection between pathogens and our overall environment and the most effective ways to allocate resources.
According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, each of the career options highlighted below enjoys a higher median salary than the overall national median and has a higher estimated employment growth rate than the 5 percent average for U.S. occupations overall.
Before committing to an entomology degree program, it’s essential to understand how your prospective degree can enhance your practical skill set and provide you with growing career prospects in a variety of industries. Earning a master’s degree or graduate certificate in entomology and nematology involves an investment of both your time and finances, but can lead to a lucrative career in a fascinating and constantly evolving field.
