Dong-Hwan Choe

Scientists have discovered the bed bug’s greatest fear

tomwt — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:01:09 +0000

Scientists have discovered the bed bug’s greatest fear tomwt Tue, 02/24/2026 - 10:01 More CNAS in the Media Ed Cara | Gizmodo February 24, 2026

GIZMODO - Despite their tiny size, bed bugs are perhaps the scariest thing a person can realistically encounter in their home. But what do these blood-sucking fiends fear most? The answer, recent research shows, is apparently water.

Scientists at the University of California, Riverside, tracked how bed bugs behaved around water. The insects avoided wet surfaces as much as possible, though younger bugs were more nimble at doing so, they found. The team’s research not only sheds light on one of humanity’s most spine-chilling parasites but could also help improve pest control efforts.

“These findings demonstrate that the wet surface is intrinsically aversive to bed bugs, a factor that must be considered in the development and application of liquid-based control tactics to prevent bed bugs from evading freshly treated surfaces,” the study researchers wrote in their paper, published this past December in the Journal of Ethology.

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Department of Entomology

Dong-Hwan Choe

Bed bugs fear water, and this could change how we fight them

tomwt — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:02:05 +0000

Bed bugs fear water, and this could change how we fight them tomwt Mon, 02/23/2026 - 09:02 More CNAS in the Media Sanjana Gajbhiye | Earth.com February 23, 2026

EARTH.COM - Have you ever wondered if bed bugs are afraid of anything? These tiny blood-sucking insects cause stress in homes around the world. Once bed bugs enter a room, getting rid of them can feel almost impossible.

But new research from the University of California, Riverside has revealed something surprising. Bed bugs fear water.

A recent study shows that moisture and wet surfaces make bed bugs quickly turn away. This discovery could help scientists and pest control companies better understand how to deal with infestations.

Why bed bugs fear water
The shape of a bed bug’s body explains this fear. Bed bugs have very flat bodies. Small breathing holes called spiracles sit along the sides of the belly.

“If they physically contact a body of water, they’ll get stuck to its surface, blocking their respiratory openings,” said Professor Dong-Hwan Choe, an entomologist at the UC Riverside.

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Dong-Hwan Choe

New system attracts and eliminates termites with a natural scent and no toxins

tomwt — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:36:31 +0000

New system attracts and eliminates termites with a natural scent and no toxins tomwt Tue, 07/08/2025 - 09:36 More CNAS in the Media Jordan Joseph | Earth.com July 04, 2025

EARTH.COM - Sagging beams and hollow‑sounding walls can signal a menace that quietly drains bank accounts around the world – termites. Building owners and insurers spend close to $5 billion a year fixing damage and fighting infestations.

Now, a team of researchers led by Dong‑Hwan Choe at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) say they can coax the culprits to a pinpoint dose of insecticide by copying the smell of their favorite meal.

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Dong-Hwan Choe

Choe Reviews Drywood Termite Geographical Hotspots, Latest Research Findings

tomwt — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 22:33:36 +0000

Choe Reviews Drywood Termite Geographical Hotspots, Latest Research Findings tomwt Wed, 01/22/2025 - 14:33 More CNAS in the Media PCTOnline.com January 22, 2025

PEST CONTROL TECHNOLOGY - At PestWorld in Denver, Colo., Dong-Hwan Choe, professor, department of entomology, University of California Riverside, presented on "Wild Wild Western Drywood Termites,” reviewing geographical hotspots for drywood termites, biology of termites and research updates and findings Choe conducted in his labs at UC Riverside.

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Department of Entomology

Dong-Hwan Choe

More effective termite control could be on the horizon

tomwt — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 18:15:23 +0000

More effective termite control could be on the horizon tomwt Wed, 07/24/2024 - 11:15 More CNAS in the Media Phillip Palmer | ABC 7 (KABC) July 20, 2024

ABC 7 - Termite activity is considered to be "very heavy" in California and other southeastern states, and the options to rid your home of the destructive insect are limited and often expensive.

But new research at UC Riverside is showing that help might be on the horizon.

The two basic strategies to control termites are fumigation, which saturates the wood with toxic gas, or a localized injection of insecticide in an area where termites have been spotted.

"We have to drill the hole. Somebody has to inject the insecticide into the wood. It's very labor intensive," explained Dr. Dong Hwan Choe, an associate professor of entomology at UC Riverside. "Sometimes, it's challenging because the termites are not going to be in the area that is accessible."

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Dong-Hwan Choe

Sweater-eating moths are an unbeatable enemy

tomwt — Wed, 29 May 2024 22:17:26 +0000

Sweater-eating moths are an unbeatable enemy tomwt Wed, 05/29/2024 - 15:17 More CNAS in the Media Katherine J. Wu | The Atlantic May 28, 2024

THE ATLANTIC - Every year, beginning around the end of March, my household starts planning a massacre. Our targets are our home’s clothes moths: My spouse and I lay pheromone-laced traps in the closets, living room, and bedrooms; we—and our two cats—go on alert for any stray speckle of brown on a cream-colored wall. The moment we spy an insect, we’ll do whatever we can to crush it. After killing dozens upon dozens, my husband and I can now snatch moths straight out of the air.

Clothes moths and their relatives, though, managed to evolve a way to capitalize on that opportunity, as Novick and other researchers have found. In their larval state, the moths manufacture enzymes and digestive juices that may help them break down keratin; they also appear to host gut microbes that dissolve substances that animal bodies cannot. For some species, that means feeding on horns, hooves, or tortoiseshells. Others, though, including the two clothes-moth species most commonly found in human homes, are far less picky about where their keratin comes from. Which is unfortunate for us, because the average home is full of the protein, Dong-Hwan Choe, an entomologist at UC Riverside, told me.

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Department of Entomology

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Termites can't hide from heat and essential oils, finds UCCE study

ilseu — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:51:34 +0000

Termites can't hide from heat and essential oils, finds UCCE study ilseu Tue, 11/03/2020 - 09:51 More CNAS in the Media Pamela Kan-Rice | UC Agricultural & Natural Resources October 29, 2020

UC ANR - Termites can eat you out of house and home by chewing through wood and weakening the structure. The results of a new termite study led by entomologists at UC Riverside may enable homeowners to rid their homes of termites with a safer, effective pest control approach.

“Combining a volatile essential oil with heat might reduce callbacks for pest management professionals and potentially lead to lower risk of heat damage to things in the homes,” said Dong-Hwan Choe, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at UC Riverside.

UC ANR Experts work on making termite treatment less harmful to humans and pets

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Termites

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources