Arun Babu
Cooperative Extension Entomology Advisor
arbabu@ucanr.edu
Ph.D. Entomology, North Carolina State University. 2018
M.S. Entomology, Mississippi State University. 2013
B.S. Agricultural Science, Kerala Agricultural University. 2008
M.S. Entomology, Mississippi State University. 2013
B.S. Agricultural Science, Kerala Agricultural University. 2008
Entomology
Arun Babu is the University of California Cooperative Extension Entomology Advisor for Imperial County. He is responsible for developing and implementing research and education programs on managing insect pests of vegetables, forage, field, and specialty crops in Imperial County.
Before joining UC Cooperative Extension, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia, focusing on developing behavioral and chemical management of the invasive spotted-wing drosophila in small fruit crops. Babu earned his undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science from Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala, India. During his master's studies at Mississippi State University and Ph.D. studies at North Carolina State University, he worked extensively on field crop IPM, focusing on pests such as brown stink bugs, corn earworms, and aphids in various crops. Altogether, Babu has over thirteen years of experience in pest management on various cropping systems.
As an Entomology Advisor for Imperial County, Babu is committed to working with growers, PCAs, industry partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders. He is dedicated to developing practical, cost-effective solutions for the various pest management problems faced by the growers in Imperial County.