Advancing sustainable urban pest management through behavior, genetics, and innovation.
The Hubbard Urban Entomology Lab
Our lab studies the behavior, ecology, and management of arthropods in urban, peri-urban, and agricultural systems. We are especially interested in how insects adapt to human-dominated environments and how these adaptations influence pest management, resistance, and interactions across landscapes.
Research in the lab centers on three themes:
Urban Pests and Public Health -
Investigating the ecology and management of cockroaches, flies, and other pests that impact human health and quality of life in cities and built environments.
Behavioral and Genetic Adaptation –
Using behavioral observation, selective breeding, and genomic tools to uncover mechanisms of resistance and adaptation in pest populations.
Innovative IPM Solutions –
Developing and testing sustainable, non-conventional strategies for pest control, including essential oils, sensor-based monitoring, and field-ready technologies.
My doctoral work at UC Riverside (with Dr. Alec Gerry) examined the complexities of behavioral resistance to insecticides. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Murillo Lab, I expanded my focus to applied pest management, working on parasites of poultry, sensor technologies, and filth fly management. Together, these experiences shape the lab’s mission: to translate discoveries in insect behavior and genetics into effective pest management strategies that protect human, environmental, and animal health.
Meet our lab members
DR. CALEB B. HUBBARD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Tally, Lady, and Red
Dr. Caleb Hubbard’s three dogs keep
him on his toes
Mission Statements
The Hubbard Urban Entomology Lab investigates how arthropods adapt to human-dominated environments. Our mission is to integrate insect behavior, genetics, and applied pest management to develop sustainable solutions for urban and peri-urban systems, while training the next generation of scientists.
Research
Behavioral Resistance to Insecticides
Behavioral resistance of insects to insecticides has been documented for nearly 70 years, yet little research has attempted to understand the mechanisms conferring this resistance. My dissertation research aimed to elucidate house fly (Musca domestica L.) behavioral resistance to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid. This research was the first of its kind to examine the mechanisms conferring behavioral resistance to an insecticide in the house fly (Hubbard and Gerry 2020, Hubbard and Gerry 2021).
I am currently investigating the nuanced behavior that results in behavioral resistance to imidacloprid. I plan to study fly feeding preferences when exposed to varying concentrations of imidacloprid, the stability of behavioral resistance. Additionally, interested in exploring the prevalence of behavioral resistance across the United States.
