A century of entomology in Wageningen: from pest control to malaria prevention

With an estimated 6 million species, insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth. They pollinate plants, break down organic matter and serve as a food source for many animals and sometimes humans. At the same time, some species can spread diseases or damage crops. According to Marcel Dicke, chair holder from 2002 to 2024, this dual role makes the study of insects – entomology - both fascinating and highly important. “Insects have a huge impact on everything that lives on Earth. In fact, we live in a world of insects.”

The foundation for the chair group was laid in 1926, when Walter Roepke established the Laboratory of Entomology in Wageningen. Dicke explains: “In the early years, the focus was mainly on pest control in agriculture and on studying individual species. Under Jan de Wilde, who became chair holder in 1954, that perspective broadened. He looked not only at the insect itself, but also at its relationship with plants, animals, humans and the environment. Much more of a systems approach.”

De Wilde thereby laid the groundwork for what became a distinct Wageningen approach, in which fundamental knowledge is linked to practical applications such as biological pest control, says Dicke. “De Wilde was one of the first to argue that chemical products should no longer be used as a first, but only as a last resort. That was quite bold at a time when the focus, after World War II, was on increasing agricultural production and preventing hunger.”

Thanks to De Wilde, Wageningen also gained increasing international recognition. He travelled widely, including to China and tropical regions. His PhD candidates conducted research around the world. In Kenya, he was instrumental in establishing a research institute focusing on the agricultural, health and food safety aspects of insects. That institute - icipe - still exists and is internationally renowned.

In the 1980s, biological pest control received a major boost under the leadership of Joop van Lenteren, says Bregje Wertheim, the current chair holder. “Van Lenteren conducted research into the use of natural enemies, such as predatory mites and parasitic wasps. What started in greenhouse horticulture has since expanded to field crops. Partly thanks to WUR, this has become an increasingly common form of pest management.”

Today, the focus in agriculture has shifted from controlling pests to preventing them, says Dicke. “The question is no longer only how to combat pests as effectively as possible, but also how to make agricultural systems more resilient and thereby prevent pests. This can be done through research into how plants defend themselves against enemies, but also through different land-use strategies, such as strip cropping. This makes it harder for insects to spread across a field. In addition, greater plant diversity leads to greater diversity of natural enemies.”

In addition to pest control, the chair group has also had a major impact on malaria prevention. Malaria research emerged in the late 1980s under the leadership of tropical entomologist Willem Takken. Wertheim explains: “Insights into how mosquitoes behave and how they locate humans through scent allow us to develop more effective and sustainable measures to control them. This has contributed to a significant reduction in mosquito populations and malaria infections in many regions. It is another clear example of how fundamental knowledge leads to impactful solutions.”

The emergence and development of various technologies have strongly influenced the field. A key example is molecular technology, says Wertheim. “It allows us to identify species more accurately using DNA, study relationships and better understand why some plants are more resistant to certain insects. It also helps us understand how insects function and evolve in their environment, how they develop, how they recognise plants or each other, and how they adapt to a changing world. Another important development is improved videography, which enables us to analyse flight behaviour and dispersal of insects in increasing detail.”

Since the late twentieth century, the chair group has also invested strongly in improving the image of insects, including through outreach and events. Dicke says: “Many people see insects as disgusting or annoying, while less than one per cent of all insects actually cause problems. The rest are harmless or beneficial. Fortunately, I now hear more positive views. I would not say that is directly due to WUR, but I do think our enthusiasm has contributed.”

Together with Arnold van Huis, Dicke also worked on promoting insects as a food source. Dicke explains: “In many non-Western countries, from Asia to South America, eating insects is very common, but not yet in the West. Yet, with their high protein content and relatively low environmental impact, they offer a very sustainable and healthy alternative to meat. At WUR, we have been at the forefront of promoting insect consumption. It is now being discussed more seriously both within and beyond WUR.”

The breeding and consumption of insects have also introduced ethical questions into the field, says Wertheim. “These developments are increasing attention to their welfare. Researchers are taking more seriously the question of whether insects can experience pain and stress, and what that means for how we treat them. For example, how can we ensure that insects in rearing environments display as much natural behaviour as possible and experience as little suffering as possible?”

One of the major challenges currently addressed by the chair group is the restoration of biodiversity in natural, agricultural and urban environments. Wertheim says: “In recent decades, the number of insects and insect species has declined sharply. This has major consequences for biodiversity, as insects are a fundamental part of ecosystems. At the same time, due to climate change and globalisation, we are seeing more species in the Netherlands that were not present before. Some pose risks to agriculture, nature or public health. This calls for even more knowledge about insects, new species and ecosystems as a whole.”

To mark the 100th anniversary of Entomology, WUR organises several events: 

• A symposium and reunion for former staff on 24 April 2026 
• An art and information market on insects, Saturday 25 April 2026, 12:00–18:00, Forum square (building 102), Droevendaalsesteeg 2, 6708 PB 
• Wageningen Exhibition at Museum Casteelse Poort: One hundred years of insect research, 22 March – 28 June 2026 
• Premiere of the film Rups by Hans M. Smid at Visum Mundi, 29 April 2026 
• Exhibition A Century of Bugs, A Millennium of Insight, 23 March – 3 June 2026, library of Forum (building 102), Droevendaalsesteeg 2

More details are available on our website.