Agricultural Entomology & Pest Management
Insect pests, beneficial insects, biological control and apiculture.
Agricultural entomology studies insects and mites that damage crops and stored products, as well as beneficial species such as pollinators and natural enemies of pests. It covers pest biology, population dynamics and insect-plant interactions.
Pest management research compares and combines insecticides, biological control with predators, parasitoids or entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria, pheromone-based methods and host-plant resistance. Related areas include beekeeping and bee products, sericulture and the use of insects as food and feed.
Studying agricultural entomology & pest management
Degree programs in this subject often run under these names:
What you typically learn
- Insect biology, ecology and identification
- Pest insects of crops and stored products
- Biological control and beneficial insects
- Pollinators and apiculture
- Integrated pest management and monitoring
Where graduates typically work
- Pest management advisory
- Biological control and beneficial-insect producers
- Plant health and quarantine services
- Beekeeping and pollination services
- Research and monitoring programs
Curricula differ by country and institution - the program pages linked below have the details.
Where to study agricultural entomology & pest management
2 programs in 2 countries. See all 2 programs
Where research is heading
Typical research questions
- How can insecticide resistance in pest populations be detected and managed?
- Under which conditions does biological control reliably suppress pests?
- How do pests and their natural enemies respond to changing climate and landscapes?
- What limits the health and productivity of managed bee colonies?
Publications per year
Papers whose main topic belongs to this field, 2010–2025.
Research fronts: fastest-growing topics
Papers 2024–2025 compared with 2021–2022, topics with at least 500 recent papers.
| Topic | 2021–2022 | 2024–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insect Utilization and EffectsEdible Insects · Food Security · Animal Feed · Nutritional Composition | 4,392 | 6,658 | +52% |
| Silkworms and Sericulture ResearchSilkworm · Artificial Diet · Genetic Potential · Mulberry Leaves | 1,224 | 1,811 | +48% |
| Bee Products Chemical AnalysisPropolis · Honey · Antioxidant · Phenolic Compounds | 5,939 | 6,562 | +10% |
| Insect Pheromone Research and ControlPheromones · Chemical Ecology · Pest Management · Odor Source Localization | 987 | 1,073 | +9% |
| Agricultural pest management studiesCowpea · Genetics · Breeding · Drought Tolerance | 3,618 | 3,898 | +8% |
| Insect Pest Control StrategiesBotanical Insecticides · Essential Oils · Insect Control · Mosquito Repellents | 5,462 | 5,857 | +7% |
Largest topics
By number of papers 2024–2025.
- Insect and Pesticide ResearchNeonicotinoids · Honey Bees · Colony Collapse Disorder · Pesticide Exposure 7,002
- Insect Utilization and EffectsEdible Insects · Food Security · Animal Feed · Nutritional Composition 6,658
- Bee Products Chemical AnalysisPropolis · Honey · Antioxidant · Phenolic Compounds 6,562
- Insect-Plant Interactions and ControlJasmonate Signaling · Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles · Biological Control · Plant Defense 5,921
- Insect Pest Control StrategiesBotanical Insecticides · Essential Oils · Insect Control · Mosquito Repellents 5,857
- Insect Resistance and GeneticsBacillus thuringiensis · RNA interference · Insecticide resistance · P450 enzymes 4,083
Highly cited recent papers
Most-cited articles and reviews published 2024–2025. Citation counts favor reviews and papers published early in the window.
- Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms
- Phytogenic feed additives as natural antibiotic alternatives in animal health and production: A review of the literature of the last decade
- Sustainable poultry farming practices: a critical review of current strategies and future prospects
- Curbing the major and growing threats from invasive alien species is urgent and achievable
- Current challenges of alternative proteins as future foods
- The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and commonality contributing to food systems and sustainability
All study programs in agricultural entomology & pest management
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture Bachelor University of Agriculture Faisalabad · Pakistan
- Crop Protection Master University of Göttingen · Germany