Close Encounters:

The
Beauty
of
Bugs

How do the writings of Plato relate to the habits of cockroaches? That's the kind of question that Art Appel, professor of entomology at Auburn University, asks his graduate students to answer. It’s also the kind of thinking that helps Appel find answers to urban pest control problems by looking at the big picture, not just the pest.

Appel, whose research is featured in “Immigrant Cockroaches: A New Cockroach Established in Alabama,” is an urban entomologist who studies the lifestyles of many urban pests, from fleas and cockroaches to termites and fire ants.

Born and reared in Los Angeles, California, Appel became interested in entomology while working on his bachelor's degree at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA). As an undergraduate student majoring in biology and philosophy, Appel took a wide variety of courses on such topics as urban sprawl and development, entomology, parasitology, and yes, great philosophers. He was drawn to entomology in part because of a masterful teacher who opened Appel's eyes to the fascinating world of insects.

“That professor was quite a character and an exceptional teacher. He made me realize that most of what’s alive in our world is insects,” said Appel. “People, dinosaurs, whales, whatever are not the dominant form of life on earth. It’s bugs.”

Appel’s interest in insects led him to continue his education at the University of California at Riverside, where he earned his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in urban entomology. He also encountered other broad-minded professors there, cementing in Appel’s mind the importance of the “big picture.” Appel joined the Auburn faculty in 1985 and has approached his research with the same values that he learned in college.

For Appel, the trick to controlling urban pests is to understand all facets of insect physiology and behavior. By discerning how insects adapt their bodies and habits to a wide variety of environments, Appel is able to find new control methods for these pests often without relying solely on chemicals.

Appel also is a dedicated educator. He teaches graduate level entomology courses, co-teaches a multi-curricula course with professors from the liberal arts, and also teaches a basic entomology class that draws students from the all over the campus.

“I really enjoy teaching these classes, and try my best to put on a good show and make my students learn something,” he continued. “I try to show them how bugs are cool, why they are cool, how much different they are than people, and how much alike they are as well. I have football players who, years after they took the course, have seen me in the mall and said ‘I loved your class.’”

For Appel, it’s a sincere appreciation of the insect world that motivates his efforts. “It’s fascinating to see how insects solve their own problems,” he said. “We create machines to solve these same problems—the digging legs of a mole, the digging legs of a mole cricket, and the bucket on an earth mover, it’s all the same. There is a connectedness, and when I can get people to see that, they’ll remember and appreciate it.”

So what drew Appel to cockroaches? “They are a wonderful tool for research because they live everywhere, from deserts to rainforests. Their bodies are large enough to really see what's going on,” said Appel. “And cockroaches are not boring! Some fly, some don’t. Some produce milk, some lay eggs.”

Despite his affection for cockroaches Appel understands that most people don’t share his fondness for these insects. He has developed numerous control measures, including many that meet integrated pest management guidelines, and also has developed a web page where homeowners and commercial pest control companies can evaluate cockroach infestations. Visit the web site at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/~ spouncey/cockro~1.htm. to find out more about your cockroach quotient.