LECTURE 1: The Structure and Function of Insects
11 AM – 12:15 PM
Baroniezaal
Language: English
Speaker: Mr. Melvin Knapp (Killgerm Chemicals Ltd)
The name actually gives it away: the lecture will be about insects. More specifically, Melvin will talk in depth about the anatomy of insects and how insect structures are relevant to function and significance in public health pest control. At the end, there will be enough time for questions, comments, and ideas from the audience.
ABOUT MELVIN
Melvin started his pest control career in 2006 working for one of the UK’s leading pest control companies as a service technician covering a wide variety of pest control disciplines including Domestic, Commercial, Ministry of Defence and food manufacturing sectors. In 2009, he became responsible for carrying out inspections and pest proofing audits for one of the UK’s leading supermarket brands which included conducting rodent control projects at major sites in the London area. In 2011, he was appointed as a Field Biologist and was responsible for carrying out detailed inspections and audits for the food manufacturing and distribution sector.
In April 2015, Melvin joined Killgerm as Technical Manager South, where he tutors industry training courses and continues to carry out Field Biologist Inspections and provides technical support to pest control companies and local authorities across the South of the UK. Furthermore, Melvin is a fellow member of the Royal Society for Public Health and holds the Entomological Society of America’s ACE (Associate Certified Entomologist)-International certification.
LECTURE 2: Monitoring through Automatic Image Recognition and Environmental DNA (eDNA)
2 PM – 3:15 PM
Baroniezaal
Language: Dutch
Speaker: Mr. Bruce Schoelitsz (HAS Hogeschool Den Bosch)
Integrated Pest Management has become a concept that no professional pest controller can ignore. The focus of this approach is on preventing nuisance rather than combating it. Good monitoring is essential in this respect. Current technological advancements offer new methods for monitoring, not only in nature but also in and around buildings. The “Innovative Biomonitoring” research group at HAS, in collaboration with Naturalis, is exploring these new techniques. Their goal is to put into practice automatic image recognition and the use of environmental DNA (i.e., genetic material left behind by organisms in their environment).
During this lecture, Bruce will explain how detection techniques using DNA in buildings can be used not only to find specific species, but also to build a general picture of what is found in houses. At the end, there will be enough time for questions, comments, and ideas from the audience.
ABOUT BRUCE
During his Biology studies at Radboud University Nijmegen, Bruce focused heavily on insect studies. During his master’s, he conducted research in Wageningen on the egg-laying behaviour of malaria mosquitoes and he even maintained his own mosquito colony (including blood feeding).
After graduating, he joined KAD, where he spent nearly seven years working in pest control. His work involved species identification, experimental and practical research, and inspections for private individuals. Even then, Bruce felt it was important to approach pest nuisances from a population-ecological perspective, resulting in reduced biocide use.
After frequent contact with HAS Hogeschool Den Bosch, he transitioned to this college, where he now is a lecturer and researcher at HAS green academy and a member of the “Innovative Biomonitoring” research group. In his research, often together with students, he applies modern monitoring and detection techniques, primarily automatic image recognition and eDNA, in the field of pest management. Several student projects have already been conducted to study pests in insect breeding, but studies are also ongoing with bedbugs, rats and mice.