The Pest Control Operators of California infested the Essig Museum on 19 February 2020. They were in town for the Termite Academy, hosted by our own Dr. Vernard Lewis at the Richmond Field Station. The two-day event included lectures, discussions, and events that covered the history of pest control research at UC Berkeley (including a tour of the Villa Termiti), regulation updates, and a lavish dinner at the Faculty Club. Many were surprised to know that the Essig Museum holds the most comprehensive collection of Cimicidae (bed bug family) thanks to the research of Dr. Robert Usinger. We also reassembled the damaged-wood display that was on exhibit at the San Francisco Internation Airport (SFO) last year.
Special thanks to Chris Reardon & Sarah Conrad (PCOC), Andrew Sutherland (UC ANR), and Vernard Lewis (UCB) for making this happen. Photo credits: PCOC (except Villa Termiti by UC ANR)
