Beyond the bugs

More than 250 million people are affected by malaria each year, and in Africa a child dies from the disease every 45 seconds.

Facts like these are what drive urban entomologist Bryce Peters in his work to control insects.

Even after 30 years in the industry, his fascination with insects doesn’t show any sign of dwindling. According to Peters, “we don’t seem to be getting on top of them”.

“Most of the insect-borne problems, like malaria, are increasing. The insects are continually adapting to what we throw at them, even though we are developing newer and safer insecticides and new delivery methods and formulations. It’s always changing; so it’s exciting.”

Peters says, “Urban entomologists are interested in insects which affect people in and around their homes. My interest is in controlling insects or repelling them and keeping them away.”

Together with Visiting Fellow, Peter Miller, Peters leads a small team in the Faculty of Science’s insect research laboratory. The unit has been conducting insecticide research and development for local and overseas companies for over 20 years.

“We work a lot through accessUTS, which is the university’s consulting arm. We also receive grants from industry for contract research and contract testing.” Industry partners have included Novartis Animal Health, SC Johnson and Son, and, the makers of Mortein, Reckitt Benckiser.

While much research and testing is done at the faculty’s facilities, it’s not all lab work for Peters and his team. “We go to various places to do studies. We tend to work in the tropics, in Cairns and Darwin, to study mosquitoes and sandflies.

“We really enjoy getting out in the field and looking at the way products are used rather than just staying in the laboratory. It’s great to see how a lot of the products are used in the conditions they’re designed to work under – that’s what I find the most satisfying.”

Peters’ career in entomology started when he studied the subject as part of his undergraduate degree in ecology at the university – then known as the NSW Institute of Technology (NSWIT) – between 1978 and 1980. Following his graduation, he worked in the NSW Department of Agriculture’s Biological and Chemical Research Institute.

“I started working at NSWIT in late February 1981 as a technical officer in applied biology at the Gore Hill campus. I moved to the City campus in 1986 to manage the biology labs after the nursing faculty moved to UTS.

“In my role as Acting General Manager of Science’s Technical Services I look after approximately 50 staff. They’re the technicians and professional officers that support all the teaching and research in science.”

The media also regularly consults Peters for his comments and advice about pest control. Earlier this year, he spoke to Brisbane radio station 4BC about the possible outbreak of pests in Queensland after the floods. Peters has also recently been interviewed by ABC radio’s James Valentine and Mornings with Kerri-Anne about cockroaches and new insecticides.

“We now have very safe and environmentally acceptable cockroach gels, which give excellent control of cockroaches in domestic and commercial situations,” says Peters. “They’re applied by placing a small, pea-size amount in cupboards and other areas cockroaches frequent.”

With regard to how he wants pest control to be improved, Peters says, “I’d like to see new insecticides that will be safer to humans and the environment and be more species-specific; that is, only control the insects we are targeting and not take out other species, which may be beneficial.”