My work encompasses three main goals: 1) understanding how urban/indoor pests function and behave, 2) utilizing this information to improve indoor integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, and 3) improving human health and quality of life through pest management.  Ultimately, I strive to provide scientifically backed evidence to support the most effective, affordable, and sustainable pest management strategies, facilitating proper pest control for everyone.  Click on the tabs above to learn more about the lab.

Scholars@UK

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Effects of aging and cleaning on bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)-derived histamine

Principato, S. & DeVries, Z. C., May 1 2025, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 62, 3, p. 495-500 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Laboratory and in-home evaluations of consumer- and professional-grade cockroach baits

Gordon, J. M., Sierras, A. J., Jackson, D. V., Principato, S. & DeVries, Z. C., Apr 1 2025, In: Journal of Economic Entomology. 118, 2, p. 826-837 12 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Effects of surface type and distance traveled on the efficacy of a Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales:Cordycipitaceae)-based biopesticide (Aprehend) for bed bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) control

Principato, S. & Devries, Z. C., Oct 1 2024, In: Journal of Economic Entomology. 117, 5, p. 1786-1795 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Common consumer residual insecticides lack efficacy against insecticide-susceptible and resistant populations of the German cockroach (Blattodea: Ectobiidae)

Gordon, J. M., Eva, M. J., Gaire, S., Appel, A. G. & Devries, Z. C., Oct 1 2024, In: Journal of Economic Entomology. 117, 5, p. 2051-2059 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Identification of the pan-allergen tropomyosin from the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius)

Gordon, J. M. & DeVries, Z. C., Dec 2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 7281.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Histamine excretion in common indoor and hematophagous arthropods

Principato, S., Romero, A., Lee, C. Y., Campbell, K., Choe, D. H., Schal, C. & DeVries, Z., Nov 1 2023, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 60, 6, p. 1269-1277 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Behavioral responses of field-collected German cockroaches to pyrethroids and pyrethroid-formulated insecticides

Gaire, S., Sierras, A., Morgan, H. L. & DeVries, Z. C., Feb 2024, In: Pest Management Science. 80, 2, p. 433-441 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Spatial distribution of histamine in bed bug-infested homes

Gordon, J. M., Santangelo, R. G., González-Morales, M. A., Menechella, M., Schal, C. & DeVries, Z. C., Jul 1 2023, In: Science of the Total Environment. 880, 163180.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Histamine Excretion by the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Gaire, S., Principato, S., Schal, C. & Devries, Z. C., Nov 1 2022, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 59, 6, p. 1898-1904 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Multiple Mechanisms Confer Fipronil Resistance in the German Cockroach: Enhanced Detoxification and Rdl Mutation

González-Morales, M. A., Devries, Z. C., Santangelo, R. G., Kakumanu, M. L. & Schal, C., Sep 1 2022, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 59, 5, p. 1721-1731 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Resistance to Fipronil in the Common Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

González-Morales, M. A., Devries, Z., Sierras, A., Santangelo, R. G., Kakumanu, M. L. & Schal, C., Jul 1 2021, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 58, 4, p. 1798-1807 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Human skin triglycerides prevent bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) arrestment

Gaire, S., DeVries, Z. C., Mick, R., Santangelo, R. G., Bottillo, G., Camera, E. & Schal, C., Dec 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 22906.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The Role of Antennae in Heat Detection and Feeding Behavior in the Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Gaire, S., Schal, C., Mick, R. & Devries, Z., Dec 1 2020, In: Journal of Economic Entomology. 113, 6, p. 2858-2863 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Mating and starvation modulate feeding and host-seeking responses in female bed bugs, Cimex lectularius

Saveer, A. M., DeVries, Z. C., Santangelo, R. G. & Schal, C., Dec 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 1915.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Reproductive compatibility among populations and host-associated lineages of the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.)

DeVries, Z. C., Santangelo, R. G., Booth, W., Lawrence, C. G., Balvín, O., Bartonička, T. & Schal, C., Oct 1 2020, In: Ecology and Evolution. 10, 20, p. 11090-11099 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

COVID-19: Reflections from Entomologists Who Rose to the Occasion

Coyle, D., Brosius, T., Devries, Z., Schmidt-Jeffris, R., Gott, R. C., Loudon, C., Saguez, J., Simonsen, T., Van Den Berg, J., McDonnell, R., Ronai, I., Zhu, L., Siebert, M., Wessels, F., Hamm, R., Higgins, L., Thompson, S., Serikawa, R., Spomer, N. & Spencer, J. L., Sep 21 2020, In: American Entomologist. 66, 3, p. 34-41 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Pervasive Resistance to Pyrethroids in German Cockroaches (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) Related to Lack of Efficacy of Total Release Foggers

Devries, Z. C., Santangelo, R. G., Crissman, J., Suazo, A., Kakumanu, M. L., Schal, C. & Rust, M., Sep 23 2019, In: Journal of Economic Entomology. 112, 5, p. 2295-2301 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Attraction to Human Odors: Validation of a Two-Choice Olfactometer

DeVries, Z. C., Saveer, A. M., Mick, R. & Schal, C., Feb 25 2019, In: Journal of Medical Entomology. 56, 2, p. 362-367 6 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Standard metabolic rate of the bed bug, Cimex lectularius: Effects of temperature, mass, and life stage

DeVries, Z. C., Kells, S. A. & Appel, A. G., Nov 2013, In: Journal of Insect Physiology. 59, 11, p. 1133-1139 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Histamine as an emergent indoor contaminant: Accumulation and persistence in bed bug infested homes

DeVries, Z. C., Santangelo, R. G., Barbarin, A. M. & Schal, C., Feb 2018, In: PLoS ONE. 13, 2, e0192462.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

BASF Cockroach Tectiva

DeVries, Z. (PI)

BASF Corporation

5/1/244/30/25

Project: Research project

PT Fendona Pressurized Insecticide Testing

DeVries, Z. (PI)

BASF Corporation

8/2/238/2/24

Project: Research project

Education

  • North Carolina State University, PhD in Entomology, 2017
  • Auburn University, MS in Entomology, 2013
  • Auburn University, BS in Zoology, 2011

Associated Departments

Entomology