What it means to be a pest management expert

I recently shared a story in the January 2025 “Callback Cures” column regarding a life lesson I learned while working for the late University of Florida medical entomologist, Dr. Jerry Butler.

The field was Jerry’s favorite classroom, and every day with him was filled with teaching moments that have stayed with me throughout my career. Jerry was my mentor and my inspiration for pursuing entomology. Sadly, he passed away in November. To honor such an incredible entomologist, educator and friend, I’d like to share another foundational moment from that summer.

Key takeaways

• Observation is the first step: Identifying the “unusual” is more important for an expert than having an immediate answer for every specimen.
• The humility of expertise: True professionals are comfortable admitting when they don’t know something, using it as a catalyst for scientific investigation.
• An evolving industry: As pest ranges expand and behaviors evolve, experts must remain ready to encounter and investigate the unknown daily.

The “mystery” mosquito

We were resetting insect collection traps at a local horse farm when a mosquito landed on my arm. It didn’t look like any of our usual suspects, so I asked Jerry to identify it.

To my surprise, he said he didn’t know.

This caught me off guard. Jerry was the preeminent expert; he was supposed to know everything. How could he not know? Still shocked by his admission, I collected the mystery mosquito so we could take a closer look back at the lab.

Redefining the “expert”

On the drive back to the lab, curiosity got the best of me. I asked Jerry how often an expert entomologist came across something he couldn’t identify.

“Every day,” he said. “Being an expert doesn’t mean you have all the answers. There’s just too much out there to know everything. That’s what makes all this so fun. You don’t have to know everything to be an expert. You just need to be comfortable spotting the unusual and be ready to investigate. Your mosquito looked unusual, so we’ll have a closer look.”

I’ve since forgotten what that specific mosquito turned out to be. However, Jerry’s view on what it means to be an expert has remained a core tenet of my professional philosophy.

Investigation over rote knowledge

The challenges we face in the pest management industry are ever-changing. Pests expand their geographic range, behaviors evolve and new invasive species are introduced regularly. No matter how many years of experience you have, every day serves up an opportunity to encounter something new.

Being a pest management expert doesn’t mean you have to know it all — because you can’t. You simply need to be comfortable spotting something unusual and possess the technical discipline to investigate it.

Thank you, Jerry, for your eagerness to share a lifetime of knowledge. I am eternally grateful for our time together and for the chance to experience your passion for entomology firsthand.

Dr. Michael Bentley is VP of training and technical services for the National Pest Management Association. You can reach him at mbentley@pestworld.org.