Join us as we welcome Dr. Seun Oladipupo, Assistant Professor of Urban Entomology at The Ohio State University, on the Science of Urban Ecology and Pest Management:

The Science of the Unseen

How do bed bugs keep coming back, even after treatments? Why are cockroaches so hard to get rid of? And why do some neighborhoods suffer from infestations more than others?

Urban pests like bed bugs and cockroaches aren’t just resilient. They have hidden microbial allies that help them grow, reproduce, and resist control. These tiny microbes make infestations worse and keep pests one step ahead of our best efforts. But what if we could use that against them?

At the Oladipupo Lab at Ohio State University, we are working to change the way we fight pests. Instead of relying only on chemicals, many of which are losing effectiveness, we study the microbes pests depend on and find ways to disrupt those relationships. By targeting these unseen vulnerabilities, we can develop smarter, safer pest control strategies that work long-term and reduce reliance on pesticides.

But pest problems aren’t just biological. They are social and economic too. Some communities struggle more than others because of housing conditions, infrastructure, and limited access to pest control. And when it comes to bed bugs, one big mystery remains: how do they spread?

We see bed bugs everywhere, especially in high numbers in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. But are these infestations connected, or are they emerging independently? If we can track their movement, we may be able to stop infestations before they start, effectively shifting pest control from reaction to prevention. That could transform how we manage bed bugs for good.

By revealing the unseen forces that drive pest infestations, both biological and social, we can build better, more effective pest control solutions that protect homes, cities, and communities.