Termites, cockroaches, bed bugs, mosquitoes, ticks, and flies are among the myriad of pests that impact quality of life, transmit diseases and damage our homes.

Urban Entomology faculty, postdocs, students, and staff tackle research to better understand and manage these pests. Blending basic and applied research with innovative education and extension outreach activities, our program works to resolve pest problems that cause economic damage and public health concerns in and around structural, residential and industrial settings.

Undergraduate Studies

Although we do not offer a four-year undergraduate degree program in urban structural entomology, students interested in this field can earn an entomology minor. Undergraduates may also find opportunities to participate in faculty research projects, particularly through the CALS Honors program or part-time or summer employment. Contact individual faculty members regarding employment opportunities.

Graduate Studies

The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology offers three entomology graduate degree programs: Master of Entomology (non-thesis), Master of Science and Ph.D.

Sydney Crawley

Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Urban and Structural Entomology
100 Derieux Place
Campus Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613
919-513-2468
scrawle@ncsu.edu

Sydney Crawley is currently developing her research and Extension program, which will focus on assisting consumers and professionals in safe, cost-effective, and scientifically sound urban pest management. She is interested in the biology and behavior of urban pests and how we can utilize this knowledge to enhance integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in various urban settings.

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Crawley Lab

Patty Alder

Director and Training Coordinator, Structural Pest Management Training and Research Facility
Campus Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-513-3805
pmalder@ncsu.edu

Patty Alder is the Director and Training Coordinator for the NC State Structural Pest Management Training Facility. She develops and conducts training programs for pest management professionals and other target groups, including extension agents, environmental health specialists, health care professionals, and NC public school employees.

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Matt Bertone

Director, NC State Plant and Disease Clinic and Extension Associate
Gardner Hall, 1229A
Raleigh, NC 27695
919-515-9530
maberto2@ncsu.edu

As the diagnostic entomologist with the NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic, Bertone’s program focuses on tools and techniques for identifying arthropods, especially insects. Identification services are vital for addressing client pest management issues, monitoring for invasive and emerging pest taxa, and providing accurate diagnoses and nomenclature for species involved in scientific research.

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Plant Disease and Insect Clinic

Aram Mikaelyan

Assistant Professor
100 Derieux Place
Campus Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613
amikael@ncsu.edu

As part of the urban entomology program at NC State, Aram Mikaelyan focuses on basic and applied research on wood-destroying pests. His lab is interested in the evolution of symbiotic digestion in wood-feeding insects and works on developing technologies for the biological control of wood-destroying pests.

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Coby Schal

Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor
100 Derieux Place
Campus Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613
919-515-1821
coby@ncsu.edu

The mission of the Schal Lab is to understand the basic biology of insects that interact with and adversely affect people in residential and other structural environments and to translate this knowledge to innovative environmental interventions, with emphasis on ecologically sound and sustainable pest management.

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