How Field Research Impacts the Pest Control Industry

While many people dream of making their trip of a lifetime, Dr. Dini Miller's desire is next level.

It's more than simply seeing the Galapagos Islands. The entomologist and professor of urban management at Virginia Tech wants to visit specifically to see an iguana, "a very special iguana."

"I have to be on those rocks with the marine iguanas as they're snorting the salt out of their noses," Miller says. “That's been a life dream."

Such an encounter would be fitting, given that David Quammen's book, "The Flight of the Iguana," inspired her interest in evolutionary biology.

But a career path turn, in the Mojave Desert of all places, led Miller toward a career focused on insects and on research that assists pest management professionals, public health officials, apartment and hotel managers, and homeowners.

Miller met with host Amanda Salvatore on an episode of the Pest in Class podcast. Among their talking points:

• [16:45] A day in the life of an entomologist doing field research

• [22:50] Debunking social stigmas around bug infestations

• [27:45] The latest control techniques for cockroaches and bedbugs

• [45:22] Training tips for leaders in the pest control industry

Check out these resources from the podcast:

• Dr. Dini Miller, Virginia Polytechnic and State University

• The Flight of the Iguana by David Quammen

• FieldRoutes

To hear more stories from the pest control industry, subscribe to Pest in Class on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music, or subscribe on YouTube to watch episodes. And as always, FieldRoutes welcomes your review and rating.