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 Arnold Mallis’ true identity was that of a pioneer for the pest control industry. He was born in New York City in 1910 and moved to California in his teens where an art teacher taught him the craft of cartooning. In turn, he began his career in the pest control industry by becoming an illustrator for pest control magazines. (Click here to view an Arnold Mallis original.)
Eventually, Mallis entered the University of California in 1934 where he received his B.S. in entomology and then joined the U.S. Forestry Services. In between employment opportunities he obtained his M.S in entomology in 1939. He embraced his new role as a pest control technician working for such companies as Miller Termite and Pest Control, Hollywood, Ca. assisting with many residences.
Between 1939 and1942 he worked as an entomologist for the building and grounds department of UCLA. In 1943 he worked on malaria control in Louisiana. It was during this early part of his career that Arnold wrote the first edition of the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control. It was published in 1945 followed by updated editions in 1954, 1960, 1964, 1969, 1982, 1990, and 1997. GIE Media Inc. bought the copyrights to the handbook in 1981.
Soon Mallis turned to the corporate world and became the senior research entomologist for the Gulf Oil Company, Pittsburgh, where he was involved with developing insecticides for household and livestock pests. Arnold then joined the entomology department at Pennsylvania State University as an associate professor where he retired in 1975.
Arnold Mallis passed away in 1984. He is remembered as a true industry legend whose reference book, The Mallis Handbook of Pest Control is the leading and most relevant reference source in the industry.
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