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.
In this article, we explore:
Pollination is one of the clearest ways insects support biodiversity in agriculture. Bees often get the most praise (for good reason), but they’re far from the only pollinators at work. Many other insects contribute to pollination every day, including:
As these insects move pollen from plant to plant, they make reproduction possible, shaping everything from crop yields to food quality and plant diversity.
Insects are responsible for pollinating roughly 75% of the world’s major food crops. Without insect pollinators:
Pollination isn’t the only way insects support biodiversity in agriculture. Crops also attract other insects — the ones that you don’t want to see munching on leaves, stems and roots. Left unchecked, those pests can quickly damage or destroy plants before they ever flower.
Thankfully, predatory and parasitic insects help keep pest populations in check. These beneficial insects in agriculture feed on species that damage crops.
For instance, ladybugs eat aphids. Parasitic wasps target caterpillars and beetle larvae. Ground beetles prey on soil-dwelling pests.
By keeping pest populations under control, these biological controls (or natural pest control methods) help farmers reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while still protecting crop health. Rather than eliminating pests entirely, they create a balance between predators and prey, preventing any single species from overwhelming the system.
Over time, this natural form of pest control allows plants and insects to coexist more easily, supporting stable agricultural ecosystems.
Biodiversity in agriculture depends on insect diversity because different insects do different jobs, and no single species can do all of them.
Different insects:
Insect diversity adds durability to agriculture. When one population declines, others can step in to support pollination or pest control. It’s a delicate balance, but an essential one.
Agricultural entomology studies how insects interact with crops, ecosystems and food production systems. But this field isn’t just about identifying species or tracking life cycles. It connects insect biology to real-world outcomes, including:
By studying insects in agriculture, researchers and professionals can see how small biological interactions (like a decline in pollinators or a surge in a single pest species) scale into system-wide effects that impact food production and resource use.
Understanding ecological trade-offs can also inform decisions about land use, conservation practices and long-term agricultural planning.
Insects impact the economy by supporting crop production, reducing agricultural costs and helping food systems function more efficiently.
These six-legged workers may be small, but their economic impact is anything but. In the United States, insect pollination contributes more than $34 billion in economic value to crops each year. That’s a sizeable reminder that pollinators aren’t just ecological helpers — they’re economic drivers, too.
If you’re interested in entomology and how insects shape modern agriculture, the University of Florida offers fully online graduate programs designed to fit a range of career goals — and support a healthy work-life balance.
With multiple areas of specialization, you can tailor your studies to match your interests within the field. UF’s online entomology program specializations include:
Whether you want to pursue an online master’s degree — with coursework split between core entomology and a focused specialization — or explore a specific area through an online graduate certificate, there’s flexibility to shape your path.
Explore our programs and contact us with any lingering questions!
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…
Spotted lanternflies are destroying crops across the Eastern U.S. These invasive pests have slashed grape harvests by up to 90% and stunted maple tree growth by half. Since arriving in Pennsylvania in 2014, they’ve spread rapidly — and they’re getting harder to kill. The good news? Scientists are fighting back with promising new weapons: parasitic wasps, bug-killing fungi and strategic habitat removal. These biological control methods could…
Grew up in the South? Then you’ve probably been stung by a fire ant. Maybe you accidentally stepped on a mound or learned the hard way not to stand on the grass for too long. However it happened, you walked away with a sting so itchy, you’d swear fate was testing you. Fire ants may…
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 in animals with very small brains. Rather than being trained, hoverflies adjust their behavior in response to what they see and the conditions around them.
In this article, we’ll explore:
Yes, insects can learn from experience.
Many insects can associate sights, smells or locations with rewards and then change their behavior based on past outcomes.
In learning experiments with insects like fruit flies and hawkmoths, insects often demonstrate:
And hoverflies? They’re becoming an increasingly useful subject for entomologists. While they aren’t classic models for reward-based learning, hoverflies help researchers explore how visual information and repeated experience shape behavior in a very small nervous system.
In entomology, “training” isn’t about teaching insects to perform tasks. It’s about understanding how an insect’s experience and sensory information influence behavior.
Also known as flower flies (family Syrphidae), hoverflies are often mistaken for bees because of their similar coloring and frequent visits to flowers. Unlike bees, they don’t sting, but they do spend much of their adult lives moving between blooms in search of nectar and pollen.
So why are hoverflies especially useful for studying learning and decision-making in insects? From a research standpoint, they offer:
These traits become especially apparent during daily foraging.
During the day, adult hoverflies move from flower to flower while searching for food. Much like bees, this process is guided by what they see rather than by a fixed route.
As hoverflies fly, they respond to visual information such as color, shape and motion. When conditions change, they adjust their flight paths and landing choices instead of following the same pattern every time.
For example, a hoverfly approaching a cluster of flowers may change course if another insect moves into view or if the visual contrast of the flowers shifts.
Instead of training hoverflies the way you’d train a dog, scientists track how insects respond to visual cues across repeated encounters. (Unfortunately for the hoverflies, no one’s handing out treats for good behavior.)
In controlled studies, hoverflies are presented with artificial flowers that differ in features like color or shape. Rather than rewarding one choice over another, scientists track which flowers the insects approach or land on repeatedly across multiple encounters.
Over time, patterns begin to form. Some hoverflies show consistent preferences for certain visual cues, such as particular colors. This suggests that their choices are shaped by visual experience rather than chance.
These studies show that hoverflies can:
What researchers have not clearly demonstrated is classic reward-based learning, where an insect is taught to associate a specific cue with a sugar reward and remember it over time. In other words, hoverflies aren’t learning tricks for treats.
Instead, the evidence points to flexible decision-making guided by visual information in the moment. That flexibility allows hoverflies to respond effectively to changing environments without needing formal training.
Insect learning has practical implications beyond the lab. Understanding how insects learn helps researchers:
These insights about insect learning matter for anyone working in agriculture or conservation — fields where understanding pollinator behavior has never mattered more.
Whether you’re drawn to pollinator health, pest management or understanding how insects respond to a changing world, UF’s entirely online entomology graduate programs give you a flexible framework for graduate-level study.
These online programs are designed for professionals who want to study insect behavior in one of four specializations. Learn from anywhere, study on your schedule and build expertise that connects research to real-world impact.
Curious what that experience looks like in practice? Here’s what UF graduates have to say about the programs.
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…
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 vectors, public health entomologists help officials anticipate risks and respond more quickly when disasters strike.
Insects respond quickly to environmental change. Standing water, debris and damaged infrastructure can alter insect populations dramatically — sometimes in a matter of days.
After a disaster, several environmental shifts often occur:
These changes don’t automatically lead to disease outbreaks. But they can increase the likelihood that disease-carrying insects become more common in affected areas. Monitoring these shifts helps emergency planners stay ahead of potential risks.
Tracking insect populations is a key part of public health preparedness after a disaster.
After a major storm or flooding event, public health teams often increase monitoring efforts to understand whether mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects are multiplying, spreading or appearing in new areas.
These programs typically involve several steps:
This information helps officials decide whether mosquito control interventions are necessary and where they’ll have the greatest impact.
In many cases, surveillance data allows communities to respond early rather than reacting after disease transmission increases. That kind of early response depends on the expertise of one key figure: the public health entomologist.
A public health entomologist studies insects that affect human health and works closely with government agencies during emergency management planning and disaster response. Their work often blends field research, laboratory analysis and collaboration with public health teams.
During disaster preparedness planning and recovery efforts, a public health entomologist contributes in several ways:
| Population monitoring | Tracking how mosquito or tick populations change after environmental disruption |
| Risk assessment | Determining whether insect population shifts could increase disease transmission |
| Control strategy guidance | Advising agencies on targeted mosquito management methods |
| Surveillance coordination | Working with local mosquito control districts to collect and analyze data |
| Public communication | Helping communities understand how to reduce insect exposure after disasters |
By translating insect data into practical recommendations, these scientists help emergency teams make faster, more informed decisions.
Hurricane Irma offers a strong real-world example of why entomology matters in disaster preparedness planning. In a 2024 study on mosquito populations in Miami-Dade County, researchers found mosquito numbers increased sharply after the storm.
In the weeks that followed, researchers captured roughly seven to eight times more mosquitoes than they did during baseline periods before and after the hurricane. The increase happened quickly, with mosquito numbers rising within about a week as post-storm conditions created new breeding opportunities.
This kind of data lets public health teams move beyond guesswork. With vector surveillance in place, officials can track post-disaster increases in mosquito populations, identify which species are present and determine where targeted control efforts are most needed.
If you’re interested in how insects influence public health, disaster preparedness and environmental systems, the University of Florida’s online entomology graduate programs offer a flexible way to build that expertise.
You can choose between:
Both options allow students to specialize in areas such as:
The programs are 100% online, allowing you to find a work-life balance that works for your schedule. Interested in learning more? Check out our Careers in Entomology page to learn what you can do with an entomology degree.
Ticks are tiny. The problems they cause? Not so much. These tiny arachnids — about the size of an apple seed — spread more vector-borne diseases than almost any other insect. Lyme disease alone is diagnosed and treated in roughly 476,000 Americans each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And recently, emergency room…
A squirming larva that screws itself deeper into living flesh as it feeds? Yeah, a screwworm sound like something a horror writer invented after a very bad camping trip. Unfortunately, they’re real. Even more unfortunately, they’re flies. The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly whose larvae (maggots) can infest wounds and feed on…
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
Ants may be only a few millimeters tall, but they’re basically running nature’s infrastructure right under our feet. They improve soil, spread seeds, control pests and recycle nutrients — all without anyone asking them to.
There are around 20 quadrillion ants on Earth: about 2.5 million for every human. Ants first appeared 140 to 168 million years ago alongside the first flowering plants — and long before humans. They’ve been shaping ecosystems ever since.
In this article, we’ll explore the ecological importance of ants, including:
An ecosystem engineer is any organism that shapes its environment in ways other species depend on. Ants do this at a staggering scale. As they tunnel through soil, they:
You can see their impact in small moments, too. Sugar cubes, trash, dropped food? No problem. Ants are like tiny logistics teams that dismantle the waste and haul it home piece by piece. You may even spot a scout ant arriving before the rest of the colony, its antennae twitching as it lays a pheromone trail for the team.
Many of us spot an ant and immediately think to call pest control, but ants do far more than invade pantries. They make up a considerable portion of Earth’s biomass and live on every continent except Antarctica.
Here are some of the most important ways ants help the environment:
Ants perform similar functions in the soil as earthworms, and they’re no less important. They dig tunnels and build nests, which loosens the soil. This allows water and oxygen to reach plant roots more easily, so plants grow stronger.
Ants are natural recyclers. They collect plant material and organic waste, break it down and move it through the soil, returning nutrients back into the ecosystem in the process.
Leafcutter ants, for example, carve out pieces of leaves, carry them back to their colonies and feed them to the fungus they cultivate in their nests. It’s no wonder they’ve mastered this system. These small-but-mighty ants began farming 50 million years ago — long before humans.
Many plant species rely on ants to move their seeds. Harvester ants, for example, prefer fat-rich seeds, like those from poppy or chia plants. They carry these seeds underground, eat part of them and then leave the rest in the nutrient-rich soil, helping new plants grow. This process is called myrmecochory.
Ants are fierce insect hunters. Army ants can even perform massive, coordinated raids and consume hundreds of thousands of prey animals a day. These miniature snipers are decimating one insect after another, and it’s all happening beneath your feet.
Healthy ant populations keep pest populations in check, which can reduce the need for chemical pesticides. That makes ants a natural ally for farmers who want to protect their crops through sustainable agriculture.
Ants are the clean-up crew of our ecosystems. This is especially true in tropical rainforests, where they remove half of all organic material from the forest floor. Their digging influences water drainage and erosion — and over time, how our land forms.
Birds, reptiles, amphibians and other animals all depend on ants as a food source. Remove them from the equation, and entire food chains start to unravel.
Ants also form a symbiosis with other insects, such as aphids. In exchange for the honeydew that aphids produce, ants act as aggressive bodyguards and protect them from predators like wasps and ladybugs.
So, how do ant communities do all this with such efficiency? They’re highly social insects with complex, well-structured societies.
Colonies assign roles to queens, workers and sometimes soldiers. Workers also specialize in tasks like foraging, nest building or caring for the young. This makes the colony highly efficient.
Remember the scout ant? Ants lay “pheromone trails” on the ground, which allows thousands of them to coordinate foraging routes and waste-removal systems without a central commander. It’s like an optimized supply chain.
Fun fact: An ant can lift up to 50 times its body weight and withstand forces up to 5,000 times its own weight.
There are more than 20,000 ant species worldwide, but a handful show up most often in homes, yards and gardens. Knowing which ant you’re dealing with can help you respond to them — and protect them — more effectively.
Here are some of the ant species you’ll encounter most commonly:
| Type of Ant 🐜 | Where They’re Found 📍 | How They Look 🐜 | What To Know ⚠️ |
| Carpenter ants | Wood, damp structures | Large, black/red | They can damage wood structures, but they help break down decaying wood. |
| Harvester ants | Dry soil, yards, sandy areas | Medium-large, red/brown | Their sting is painful, but their colonies disperse seeds and improve soil. |
| Fire ants | Lawns, fields, disturbed soil | Small, reddish, aggressive | They’re notorious for swarming and painful stings, but they help control pests like ticks and chiggers. |
| Sugar ants | Indoors | Tiny, brown or black | Though annoying, these are harmless ants that help clean up organic debris (like sugar). |
| Crazy ants | Around homes, electronics and yards | Small, long legs, erratic movement | They’re hard to control and can infest electronics, but they can also reduce fire ant populations. |
| Leafcutter ants | Forests, gardens | Medium, usually carry leaf pieces | They can damage plants but play a key role in ecosystem balance through fungus farming. |
Ants do a lot of good for the environment, and protecting these tiny engineers can be simple:
Ants may be tiny, but they quietly protect and reshape the world beneath our feet by:
So, the next time you see a trail of ants, try not to disturb them. They’re a glimpse into an ancient system that’s been working long before us and will continue long after.
The study of ants is called myrmecology, but the broader study of insects is known as entomology. At the University of Florida, you can turn your curiosity about ants into something much more through UF’s nationally top-ranked, fully online entomology programs.
Deepen your expertise with a master’s degree or build skills quickly with a graduate certificate. UF’s flexible, 100% online format lets you study from anywhere and on your own schedule. Along the way, you’ll explore how ants and other insects shape the systems that support life, and how you can help protect them.
Widen your expertise in fields like:
Engineer your next move and join Gator Nation next semester.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/ant
https://entomologytoday.org/2014/02/11/ants-can-lift-up-to-5000-times-their-own-body-weight-new-study-suggests
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2201550119
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/how-strong-are-ants-relative-strength-compared-to-humans-and-other-animals
https://www.insectlore.com/blogs/ants/ant-colony-structure-and-hierarchy
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…
“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 surprise you is just how far that commitment extends. Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund (DCF) has provided more than $132 million to protect at-risk animals, including sea turtles, gorillas, elephants and — you guessed it — pollinators.
Disney has quietly become a serious force in addressing pollinator decline. Would we expect anything less from the company that brought us “A Bug’s Life”?
In this article, we’ll explore:
Step inside any Disney theme park and you’ll find that the magic extends well beyond the rides.
Walt Disney World Resort has permanently set aside over 8,000 acres for wildlife conservation, and throughout the property, guests encounter milkweed, passion vines and nectar plants like firebush and wild petunia. These host plants attract butterfly species like:
To date, over 70 butterfly species have been recorded in pollinator gardens across the resort, a testament to what intentional landscaping can accomplish. Native plant gardens designed specifically for bees round out the effort.
Walt Disney’s original vision for EPCOT — the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow — was nothing short of revolutionary. That spirit lives on in the park’s 48,000-panel, 5-megawatt solar power plant designed in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head.
But what does a powerplant have to do with pollinator conservation?
Recognizing the potential of the land beneath and around the solar panels, Disney transformed the surrounding area into 160-plus acres of dedicated pollinator habitat. This includes a 10-acre research meadow planted with grasses and forbs — bird’s-foot trefoil, black-eyed Susans and purple love grass — selected to bloom at staggered times throughout the year. No matter the season, bees, butterflies and other pollinators will find resources here.
The project offers a glimpse at a future where energy infrastructure and ecological stewardship coexist.
In 2024, Disney volunteers — known as VoluntEARS — contributed over 1,200 hours planting and caring for pollinator-friendly plants, with a special focus on milkweed, the monarch butterfly’s irreplaceable host plant.
This kind of hands-in-the-soil commitment is more important than ever. Monarch butterflies have suffered a 90% population decline over the past two decades, driven largely by the destruction of habitats they depend on during their annual migration.
Disney’s all about princesses. They just had to come to the aid of a monarch.
Some of the most impactful conservation work Disney does happens in partnership — specifically with the University of Florida. The DCF has awarded over $5 million to UF conservation programs, and the collaboration goes well beyond writing checks.
“Our relationship extends beyond grants to meaningful engagement in conservation solutions as our teams work together to make an impact for wildlife, people and the planet,” said Kim Sams, former director of strategic philanthropy at Disney Enterprise Social Responsibility.
A $350,000 grant supports conservation of more than 40 critically imperiled butterfly species in Florida and California, led by Jaret Daniels, curator and program director at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity.
The results speak for themselves. Together, UF and the DCF team have raised and released:
Disney isn’t paying us to write this. (Surprise!) We just deeply respect the work the company’s done to protect wild places and wildlife. The lesson is worth sharing: Pollinators are essential for global food security.
Bees, butterflies and other pollinators are responsible for producing 35% of the world’s food crops. Without them, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa — among countless other foods — would disappear from our plates.
You don’t need to be a billion-dollar corporation to make a difference. Planting pollinator-friendly flowers like milkweed in your garden is a genuinely impactful place to start. But if you’re ready to take your passion further, there’s a clear path forward for you at UF.
Keep these facts in mind the next time you see a butterfly fluttering in the background of a Disney animated film.
If you want to turn your passion for bees and butterflies into a career that helps protect them, entomology is worth a serious look. A master’s degree in entomology can lead to careers in beekeeping, insect rearing and environmental conservation — fields where the work genuinely matters.
At UF, we offer four online entomology master’s degree programs. The two best suited to pollinator-focused careers are:
Not ready to commit to a full degree? We also offer graduate certificates that are flexible, entirely online and designed to fit around your life.
Want to earn a credential from the same university that partners with Disney for insect conservation? Explore our entomology programs.
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…
If you’ve ever lived in an apartment building, you might be familiar with how quickly one tenant’s problem becomes everyone’s problem. One leaking pipe on the fourth floor becomes ceiling stains on the third, a ruined floor on the second (and you don’t even want to know what happens on the first floor).
Urban pests operate the same way. One person’s untreated bed bug or cockroach infestation can ripple through an entire building. Urban entomology is the field dedicated to understanding and managing these tiny tenants. It keeps our cities healthier, safer and far more livable than they’d be without it.
Below are seven reasons urban entomology matters today, especially as cities grow more crowded.
Urban entomology protects public health, both physically and emotionally, especially in places where people live close together.
Cockroaches trigger asthma. Mosquitoes spread diseases. Bed bugs cause stress and insomnia (not to mention how costly they can be to treat). In dense cities where these pests are most abundant, pests aren’t just a nuisance — they’re a public health risk.
Urban entomologists study how pests move, reproduce, spread allergens and transmit pathogens. Their insights guide hospitals, schools and public health agencies in reducing exposure, especially for people who face a higher risk, like:
Urban entomology also seeks to influence our decision on use of both cultural and chemical control. Especially for the latter, improper chemical use can both be wasteful and harmful to human health.
Pest problems don’t hit every neighborhood equally. Older buildings and overcrowded housing amplify infestations.
Urban entomology helps bridge this gap. It gives stakeholders — such as housing authorities and city planners — the data they need to design fair, effective solutions, like:
There is a common misconception that urban pests only seek lower-income housing. These opportunistic pests will infest homes of any income level and thrive, when given the chance. It may simply be more apparent in lower income housing, where families cannot readily afford treatment.
Urban entomology also matters because pests show up where people gather and depend on essential services. They’re not taking up residence in one apartment and saying, “This is nice. Let’s just stay here.” Any opening, such as ventilation tubes, electrical outlets, and cracks between walls are means for these pests to spread elsewhere.
Urban insects also disrupt:
You might not visit a hospital, hotels, or a restaurant often, but others in the city frequent these locations every day, and urban pests can cause serious problems in a hurry.
For instance, a single introduction of bed bugs in a homeless shelter can spread to dozens of beds within days. Cockroaches can spread to multiple apartment buildings when infested furniture are moved around. Lice can spread among people by sharing products like the hair brush.
Thankfully, urban entomologists help these high-traffic environments stay safe by:
These tools allow us to detect urban pest problems early, which makes management more efficient and effective. They also provide information important for management decision making, such as where in a building to apply treatment.
For decades, urban pest control relied heavily on widespread chemical spraying. Effective? Sure. But also disruptive to ecosystems, human health and species pest control technicians didn’t mean to target.
Today, many cities and agencies follow integrated pest management, a more strategic approach that relies on:
Urban entomologists are the masterminds behind these plans. Their research helps determine:
Even after we have determined these factors, there are still remaining nuisance to urban pest management:
Ultimately, we seek to reduce chemical exposure while improving treatment effectiveness. Children and pets may unknowingly reach into a place that has been treated, so extra caution is warranted. Thus, for homeowners, tenants, and urban entomologists, education is a key component to a successful management.
As temperatures continue to rise, pests are behaving differently. Mosquito seasons are lengthening. Termites and mosquitoes are expanding their range. Some insects are producing more generations per year, boosting population numbers in urban spaces.
Urban entomologists monitor how climate change alters pest distribution, helping cities prepare instead of simply reacting. This work influences:
City officials can’t control the weather, but with the right entomological data, they can plan for and control how they respond to it. This is especially important after an environmental disaster, such as hurricanes. These weather events will spread waste and debris that contain pests, and urban pests can quickly grow out of control. For example, after the Fukushima earthquake in Japan, locals have witnessed a river of fly larvae marching through the streets!
If a city is the sum of its buildings, pests are among the small cracks that weaken its framework. Left unchecked, they can turn into major issues that threaten stability. Managed properly, pests remain minor inconveniences rather than building (or neighborhood-wide) crises.
Urban entomology supports resilience by helping municipalities develop long-term strategies that keep pests — and their consequences — under control. That includes everything from rodent-proofing waste systems to designing pest-resistant landscaping around schools and parks.
Urban entomologists do more than identify and remove unwanted insects from city buildings. This branch of entomology can lay the foundation for careers in other areas, like:
It’s a field where science meets strategy, and where professionals can see the results of their work in healthier homes, safer classrooms and stronger city systems.
If the idea of solving building-wide pest problems before they spread appeals to you, urban entomology could be your next step.
At the University of Florida, our entirely online graduate programs in entomology let you explore specializations in areas like urban pest management or landscape pest management, all through flexible online coursework. You’ll learn how to identify, control and prevent pest threats using the same strategies that are shaping modern public health and city planning.
Whether you’re already in pest control, environmental services, public health or simply curious about how cities stay livable, UF’s programs can help you build the knowledge and skills that make a real difference.
Ready to turn curiosity into a career? See what past students thought about our programs.
They show up uninvited, multiply faster than you’d expect and are remarkably good at avoiding detection until there’s already a problem. (Honestly, how rude.) In some cases, homeowners may not even notice a household pest infestation until it is too late — and by then, the situation is rarely a quick fix. For us to…
If you’ve ever lived in an apartment building, you might be familiar with how quickly one tenant’s problem becomes everyone’s problem. One leaking pipe on the fourth floor becomes ceiling stains on the third, a ruined floor on the second (and you don’t even want to know what happens on the first floor). Urban pests…
If you’ve ever battled a pest that refuses to leave your home, you already know the value of effective pest control. Insect pests are difficult enough to manage in your home, so imagine trying to control pests across entire farms, warehouses or parks—without harming the environment. This is exactly the challenge precision pest management aims…
Don’t let their tiny sizes fool you: Insects are the heavy lifters of our planet. With an estimated five to ten million species worldwide, insects make up more than half of all known life on Earth. They’re also the most diverse animals on the planet, varying widely in shape, behavior and function.
This diversity is critical because different species of insects handle different jobs. Some pollinate specific plants. Others break down certain materials. When one species disappears, the work it did often doesn’t get done, creating gaps that ripple through entire ecosystems.
So what is insect biodiversity, and why is it so important? Let’s take a closer look.
Insects belong to a group of animals called arthropods, defined by a few key features:
They’re also the only invertebrates capable of flight. This superpower allows them to thrive in nearly every corner of the world, and it’s made them astonishingly diverse.
Insect biodiversity refers to the variety of insect species on Earth, how they differ from one another and the roles they play in ecosystems. There are an estimated five to 10 million species across approximately 30 insect orders, although the exact number is debated.
Just five of these orders make up about 80% of the entire insect population:
| Order | Examples |
| Coleoptera | Beetles |
| Lepidoptera | Butterflies, moths |
| Diptera | Flies, mosquitoes |
| Hymenoptera | Ants, bees, wasps, sawflies |
| Hemiptera | True bugs, such as cicadas, leafhoppers and bed bugs |
Even within these five dominant orders, the variety is remarkable — from tiny ants to massive beetles.
Insect biodiversity is essential because insects support food production, ecosystem stability and natural balance. For example, more than 300 different crops that we consume are pollinated by insects. And one in every three bites of food you eat depends on their hard work.
When insect populations are thriving and varied, entire systems stay balanced. But when populations decline or certain species disappear, the effects cascade — affecting everything from crop yields to wildlife populations.
Healthy insect populations contribute to:
When it comes to beneficial insects, honey bees often get the spotlight, but they’re just one piece of a much larger ecosystem. Insect biodiversity — and insect ecology, the way insects interact with plants and animals — is essential to keeping ecosystems healthy and functioning.
Here’s why:
Insects are high in protein, reproduce quickly and are sustainable to raise. They create only small amounts of carbon dioxide, making them an increasingly popular food source. By 2030, experts expect human consumption of insects to grow significantly.
Insects nourish countless species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
In fact:
More than 2,000 insects, in both adult and immature forms are edible, including:
Insects are a primary food source for many animals. When they decline, we decline — and entire food chains get disrupted.
Picture this: You’re out in nature. Around you, butterflies flock to bright flowers and bees hum in a hive nearby. Behind that peaceful scene, there’s critical work happening: work that produces much of our food.
Bees, butterflies and moths are examples of pollinators. They move pollen between the male and female parts of plants for reproduction, which produces crops. Crops pollinated by bees account for 75% of the fruits, nuts and vegetables grown in the U.S. Without them, plant reproduction and food production would suffer, and we’d see higher food prices and less variety at the grocery store.
Different pollinators work with different plants. Some flowers can only be pollinated by specific bee species. This specialization means we need diverse pollinator populations to maintain diverse plant life.
Insects like dung beetles are decomposers: nature’s cleanup crew. They break down organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Other examples of decomposers include:
These insects help break down organic matter, such as fallen leaves, dead plants and animal waste. This process returns nutrients to the soil, which supports healthy plant growth and maintains soil quality.
Different decomposers break down different materials. Termites handle wood, for example, and dung beetles handle waste. Losing even one species means certain materials don’t get recycled efficiently. Without healthy insect populations, entire ecosystems can begin to break down — often faster than people expect.
Despite their importance, insect declines have reached alarming levels. Nearly 40% of insect species are in decline, and about one third are considered endangered. Scientists point to several major causes:
Entomologists study and protect insect populations by monitoring changes in ecosystems and identifying threats to biodiversity. Their work focuses on:
Through field studies, population monitoring, genetic engineering and data analysis, scientists track insect declines and develop strategies to protect ecosystems.
Wondering how you can do your part? Even small changes, like planting pollinator-friendly gardens or supporting conservation initiatives, can make a difference.
Insect biodiversity represents one of the most important and least visible foundations of life on Earth. These small organisms perform enormous ecological tasks every day, often without our awareness or recognition.
In this article, we learned:
Learning about insect biodiversity helps us protect the systems we all rely on.
So, the next time an insect crosses your path, remember: It has an important job to do.
If you find yourself endlessly curious about bugs, ecosystems and the web of life they support, why not take that curiosity further?
The University of Florida offers entirely online, top-ranked graduate programs in entomology with a range of focus areas that reflect just how diverse this field is:
From insect behavior to conservation and pest management, UF’s online programs let you explore the field while learning from leading experts. If the insects around you spark curiosity, UF might be the perfect place to start.
Sources:
https://www.entsoc.org/advocacy/science-policy/resources/position-statements/insects-biodiversity
https://www.insectlore.com/blogs/butterflies/butterfly-pollination
https://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/tips-reducing-pesticide-impacts-wildlife
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…
The on-screen text that opens 2007’s “Bee Movie” — a cult classic — nods to an old, persistent myth: the idea that bees shouldn’t be able to fly. It states:
“According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway. Because bees don’t care what humans think is impossible.”
Entertaining? Absolutely. Scientifically accurate? Not even close. Bees, like other insects with wings, don’t defy the laws of aviation or physics; they exploit them.
Why, then, do so many people think that bees shouldn’t be able to fly? Let’s unpack that myth and explore the complex forces that help insects take to the skies.
To understand how insects fly, we first need to look at birds and bats — the only other animals capable of true, powered flight.
Birds and bats achieve lift, in part, using cambered wings: curved wings that guide air to move faster over the top, reducing pressure and creating lift. Airplanes use this same basic design principle to get off the ground.
Insect wings, however, are more like flat plates than curved airplane wings. So, how can insects fly if they can’t take advantage of these same smooth, fixed-wing aerodynamics?
This question really tripped up early entomologists, who believed insect wings must behave like a miniature version of a plane’s fixed airfoils. In the 1930s, French entomologist Antoine Magnan applied the laws of air resistance to insects and deemed their flight “impossible.” (This is the likely origin of the myth that bees defy the laws of physics.)
The truth: Insects have had roughly 400 million years to fine-tune flight, giving them time to evolve strategies that bats, birds and even airplanes simply don’t use.
Simply put, insects fly by flapping their wings. When an insect sweeps its wings back and forth, it accelerates air downward, and by Newton’s third law of motion (every action has an equal and opposite reaction), that downward push on the air creates an upward force called lift.
With relatively small wings and heavy bodies, bees are a great example of efficient insect flight. Here’s how they do it:
This type of flight is energy-intensive, which helps explain why bees are constantly foraging for high-energy nectar.
So how do small insect wings produce such strong forces?
Because the leading-edge vortex stays attached for much of the stroke, it acts like a lift amplifier, helping insects stay airborne on wings that might otherwise seem too small.
Early researchers like Magnan struggled with insect flight because they believed that insect wings behaved like the fixed wings of an airplane, where high angles of attack usually cause a stall. In reality, flying insects are more like tiny helicopters … flying on tiny hurricanes.
As you might expect, all this wing-flapping takes some serious muscle. Insects generally need at least 12 to 16% of their body mass in flight muscle just to get off the ground. In high-performance fliers, flight muscles can make up 55 to 65% of total body mass: more than half their entire body weight. The more flight muscle an insect has, the stronger, longer or more agile its flight becomes.
Maintaining that muscle is costly, though. Some insects can partially break down their flight muscles when they no longer need to fly, redirecting energy and resources to other needs in response to environmental conditions like population density or food availability.
Here are a few key facts about insect flight to keep in mind:
Not long ago, mysteries like “how bees fly” seemed unsolvable with the tools scientists had. Today, entomologists use high-speed video, robotic wings and sophisticated computer models to peel back the curtain on how insects operate in the air and on the ground.
New discoveries are being made every day, with entomologists studying how climate change affects insect behavior, how to better protect pollinators and how insects communicate. If these mysteries interest you, it might be time to consider a career in entomology.
Entomologists are a lot like you. They love anything with six or more legs and spend their time learning all about insects and other arthropods. The difference is that they get paid for it.
What’s separating you from them? A formal entomology education.
The University of Florida offers 100% online entomology programs designed to help enthusiasts like you turn a love of insects into a rewarding career. Our online medical entomology master’s degree and graduate certificate programs provide key skills needed to pursue careers in public health, research, academia and other medical-entomology-related areas.
Interested? Explore our 100% online entomology programs to see everything they can offer you, then submit your application when you’re ready. Who knows what you’ll discover once you take flight.
Sources:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336312526_Insect_flight_explained_according_to_Newtonian_physics
https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/living-world/2018/tricks-and-traits-let-insects-take-flight
https://www.businessinsider.com/bees-cant-fly-scientifically-incorrect-2017-12
Ticks are tiny. The problems they cause? Not so much. These tiny arachnids — about the size of an apple seed — spread more vector-borne diseases than almost any other insect. Lyme disease alone is diagnosed and treated in roughly 476,000 Americans each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And recently, emergency room…
A squirming larva that screws itself deeper into living flesh as it feeds? Yeah, a screwworm sound like something a horror writer invented after a very bad camping trip. Unfortunately, they’re real. Even more unfortunately, they’re flies. The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly whose larvae (maggots) can infest wounds and feed on…
They show up uninvited, multiply faster than you’d expect and are remarkably good at avoiding detection until there’s already a problem. (Honestly, how rude.) In some cases, homeowners may not even notice a household pest infestation until it is too late — and by then, the situation is rarely a quick fix. For us to…
If you think winter means an icy backyard empty of critters, think again — at least when it comes to insects. Many disappear, but that doesn’t mean they’ve vanished. Some hunker down in hiding, some slow their metabolism and a few even thrive in the cold. Understanding what happens to insects in winter isn’t just interesting. It can help gardeners, homeowners and curious science lovers protect their homes from insects looking to move indoors this winter.
Today, we’re taking a closer look at:
Short answer: Most don’t. Insects are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external temperatures to regulate their body heat. When the mercury drops, their metabolism slows.
But cold weather doesn’t always mean death. Many insects have adapted clever strategies to survive. Some dig into the soil, others take shelter under bark and a few species enter a form of dormancy called diapause, or the insect equivalent of hibernation.
So yes, insects can survive cold weather — but they usually prefer to stay out of the frost.
Some species actually thrive when temperatures drop. These insects have unique physiological adaptations that let them tolerate freezing or near-freezing conditions:
These strategies illustrate how evolution equips even tiny creatures for survival against harsh winters.
Not all winter insects are welcome indoors. In fact, most aren’t. But these four pests really exploit the cold to seek warmth, food and shelter:
Even though these bugs aren’t visible in the snowy garden, they may find your home to be the perfect cozy winter retreat.
Keeping bugs out during winter is mostly about removing shelter and food opportunities:
Technically, most insects don’t hibernate like mammals (sorry — they’re not participating in long cave naps like big, fuzzy bears). Instead, they enter diapause, a state of suspended development with slowed metabolism.
During diapause, insects:
Some bugs, like ladybugs, stay partially active, taking advantage of brief warm periods to feed or move indoors. Others, such as mosquitoes, die off, leaving eggs or larvae that will emerge in spring.
Looking for a quick recap? Here are all the details on what really goes on with insects during those cold winter months:
Curious about the science behind insect adaptation and survival (and pest management strategies on a larger scale)? The University of Florida, proudly ranked #1 in entomology and nematology worldwide, offers four distinct online entomology graduate programs:
Depending on your goals, you can pursue a graduate certificate or a master’s degree online in your chosen specialty. You’ll deepen your knowledge in insect biology, ecology and management, gaining the skills to tackle real-world challenges.
Align your passions with the right program and get ready to make an impact wherever your curiosity and skills take you.
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…
Ticks. They’re creepy, they’re crawly — and if you’ve ever gone hiking, you’re probably familiar with the idea of doing a “tick check” afterward. You may have even Googled things like “how to remove a tick” — just in case. Known for carrying and transmitting Lyme disease, these bloodsucking arachnids have earned a notorious reputation.
But how did ticks evolve to rely on blood for survival? And how are these adaptations informing today’s research in entomology and disease ecology?
Let’s find out.
According to fossil records, Ixodidae—the order today’s hard ticks belong to—emerged during the Cretaceous period, about 100 million years ago. (So yes, they likely fed on feathered dinosaurs.)
And while ticks are arachnids, that doesn’t make them spiders. Sure, they have eight legs like their spider cousins, but their biology, behavior and ecological roles are quite different.
Ticks are classified into three families: Ixodidae (hard ticks), Argasidae (soft ticks) and Nuttalliellidae (a rare, ancient group with only one species).
The earliest true ticks were already obligate blood-feeders, meaning they needed blood to survive. But before they evolved into the highly specialized parasites we know today, their ancestors (free-living mites), likely led a very different lifestyle.
These ancient relatives probably scavenged organic material or fed on decomposing insects in the soil. Over time, they evolved into blood-feeding ticks, a major shift likely driven by access to a more consistent and nutrient-rich food source: vertebrate blood.
Ticks transitioned from scavenging to blood-feeding because blood is a more nutrient-rich and reliable food source. This adaptation gave them a powerful survival advantage and supported their evolution into successful parasites.
But it wasn’t just about easy calories. Other evolutionary factors helped hematophagy (blood-feeding) become ticks’ go-to survival strategy:
Through years of evolution, ticks have developed characteristics that help them successfully thrive on blood. These specialized changes help them:
So how do they do it? Mostly, through two major adaptations: piercing mouthparts and anticoagulant saliva.
Ticks may not have sharp vampire-like fangs, but they do have something even more cunning: the ability to stay attached to their prey for hours (or even days) without being noticed.
That’s why their feeding structure evolved into a system called the capitulum, which includes three key components:
Without the right chemicals on standby, it would be much harder for ticks to efficiently feed every time they find a host. That’s because vertebrates, like humans and other mammals, respond to injuries with clotting, inflammation and the feeling of pain.
So, over millions of years, tick saliva evolved into a complex chemical cocktail designed to quietly counteract those defenses. Inside that saliva, you’ll find:
Want to keep learning about insects, pests and the science behind how they affect our world? UF has online programs for that.
Ticks are tiny. The problems they cause? Not so much. These tiny arachnids — about the size of an apple seed — spread more vector-borne diseases than almost any other insect. Lyme disease alone is diagnosed and treated in roughly 476,000 Americans each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And recently, emergency room…
A squirming larva that screws itself deeper into living flesh as it feeds? Yeah, a screwworm sound like something a horror writer invented after a very bad camping trip. Unfortunately, they’re real. Even more unfortunately, they’re flies. The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly whose larvae (maggots) can infest wounds and feed on…
Traveling exposes you to a lot of new experiences, like stumbling upon the best street food you’ve ever had. That’s part of what makes it worthwhile. But some surprises are worth getting ahead of, and vector-borne diseases are at the top of that list. Sure, you can’t avoid bugs entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target. That takes preparation and a…
