Appel receives national achievement award

Arthur Appel, interim dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture and interim director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, was recognized in May for his distinguished career as an entomologist.

Appel received the Distinguished Achievement Award at the National Conference on Urban Entomology in Atlanta. This award is the highest honor given by the organization to a researcher and presented the Arnold Mallis Memorial Award Lecture, the keynote lecture that launches the conference.

“This recognition reflects the outstanding contributions and meaningful impacts of his work to the pest control industry,” said David Held, chair of the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology. “Dr. Appel is an expert on urban cockroaches and their management and was a pioneer in researching the bait products now used almost universally for cockroach management.” 

Appel is known for decades of significant contributions to the field of urban entomology. He started his career at Auburn University in 1985 as an assistant professor, moving up the ranks through the role of chair of the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology from 2005-2014. He then served as interim associate dean of research for the College of Agriculture and interim assistant director of the Experiment Station. He has twice served as interim dean and director, first from 2015-2016 and currently since 2024. 

Appel’s research focuses on urban entomology, particularly the biology, behavior, physiology and management of structural pests such as termites, cockroaches and fire ants. His research has examined insect toxicology, insecticide resistance, integrated pest management (IPM), and the development and evaluation of both conventional and biologically based pest-control strategies.

Appel is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in his field, having served as a subject editor for leading scientific journals including Psyche, the Journal of Economic Entomology (Household and Structural Insects section), and Physiological Entomology. He has delivered keynote addresses at major professional meetings in Mexico and Malaysia and has provided leadership and service to the Entomological Society of America through numerous committee and chair appointments.

Stephen Gates, alumnus of the department and vice president of Cook’s Pest Control — one of the largest pest control companies in the Southeast, praised Appel’s years of significant contributions to urban entomology and pest control.

“Dr. Appel’s work reinforces that effective pest control isn’t just about applying a product,” Gates said. “It’s about understanding the problem and applying the right strategy.”

Appel said he was honored to receive the Distinguished Achievement Award.

“I’m grateful to receive this award, which also recognizes the important work of my students and technician,” he said.