February 18, 2016

In the 24 years that Shripat Kamble has been involved with the Urban Pest Management conference — 19 of them as coordinator — group thinking has shifted.

Integrated pest management’s multi-pronged, educational, environmentally friendly approach in targeting pests has gained acceptance with Nebraska urban pest management professionals, Kamble said. (See related story: Strategic pest control theme runs strong at UPM conference.)

“In the beginning the group was not accustomed to IPM,” Kamble said. “Now their thinking has changed; their mindset has changed. That is a major impact.”

The reputation of the Lincoln conference is bolstered by Kamble’s colleagues from national professional groups who speak there regularly, and by the self-tutorial insect lab operated by another University of Nebraska-Lincoln entomologist, Jim Kalisch.

Said Kamble: “We provide the best information that is current. We feel that we are providing the best service for Nebraska professional pest control companies, offering them the best educational programs.”

From 2000-2015 the conference had more than 3,000 participants, Kamble said. Ninety-eight percent of participating pest management professionals report gaining knowledge and biology of pests. Sixty-six percent reported using non-chemical management as a result of the conference.

Kamble announced during the Feb. 9-10 conference that this would be his last. He later estimated each conference requires about four months of time to plan; make contacts, arrangements and budgets; host the conference; and write thank you letters. He said he will continue to conduct research and work on other Nebraska Extension projects.

The annual conference is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska State Pest Control Association, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Kamble is nationally known for his research on cockroaches, termites, ants and bedbugs, and has earned multiple awards. In 2012 Kamble received the Distinguished Achievement Award from his peers at the National Conference on Urban Entomology. He also is a chair of the examining committee for Board Certified Entomologists offered by the Entomological Society of America.

Since arriving at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1978, Kamble has advised 22 graduate students. He also advises the Indian Students Association.

Cheryl Alberts, Project Coordinator
Pesticide Safety Education Program