A5015827981- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Forest Management and Policy
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Bioenergy crop production and management
University of the Free State
2018-2025
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
2014-2025
United States Department of State
2024
Institute of Entomology
2023
Agricultural Research Council of South Africa
2017-2020
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2017-2018
Sustainability Institute
2014
University of the Witwatersrand
2012-2014
Stellenbosch University
2010
Temperature and resource availability are key elements known to limit the occurrence survival of arthropods in wild. In current era climate change, critical thermal limits factors affecting these may be particular importance. We therefore investigated maxima (CTmax) adult Zygogramma bicolorata beetles, a biological control agent for invasive plant Parthenium hysterophorus, relation acclimation, hardening, age, food using static (constant) dynamic (ramping) protocols. Increasing temperatures...
Sterile insect release (SIR) is used to suppress pest populations in agro-ecosystems, but its success hinges on the performance of released insects and prevailing environmental conditions. For example, low temperatures dramatically reduce SIR efficacy cooler Here, we report costs benefits thermal acclimation for laboratory field responses codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Using a component fitness, demonstrate that temperature acclimated laboratory-reared moths are recaptured significantly more...
Global climate is rapidly changing and its evidence increasingly manifesting across various biological systems. For arthropods, several studies have demonstrated how climates affect their distribution through phenological physiological responses, largely focusing on organismal fitness parameters. However, the net-effect of among ecological communities may be mediated by feedback pathways interacting trophic groups under environmental change. agroecosystems, maintenance integrity interactions...
Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , is a serious invasive pest in Africa but “Push-Pull” companion cropping can substantially reduce infestation. Here, we elucidate the underpinning chemical ecology mechanisms. We hypothesized that crop volatiles repel herbivores (push) while attracting natural enemies (pull). Headspace collected from plants ( Desmodium intortum, uncinatum Brachiaria Mulato II) were used bioassays and electrophysiological recordings with S. parasitoid wasps. Insect...
Abstract ‘One health’ (OH) is a cross-sectoral approach that addresses human, plant, animal, and environmental health problems. The initiative stems from recognition of the convoluted linkages among global risks need for coherent multipronged countermeasures. For agriculture, degradation biodiversity depletion wrought by heavy reliance on inorganic inputs to meet needs ever-growing human population, are matter societal concern. Agroecological-based farming strategies have therefore aptly...
Abstract Background Agricultural research and technology adoption play a key role in improving productivity therefore generate impact on household livelihoods. The push–pull developed by the International Centre of Insect Physiology Ecology collaborators/partners has been recognized for its multiple roles improvement income generation. However, subsequent impacts after adaptation to drier agro-ecologies have not ascertained. An ex-post study was conducted evaluate climate-resilient farmers’...
Background Desmodium species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress Striga weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which impact microbiome, either its root exudates, changes nutrition, or shading microbes from nodules into rhizosphere, less understood. Here, we investigated diversity of root-nodule microbial communities three species- uncinatum (SLD), intortum (GLD), incanum (AID) currently smallholder maize...
Abstract Crop diversification is associated with ecosystem services that can improve yield. We integrated tomatoes and kales within the cereal push-pull technology (PPT), to form vegetable (VIPP), explored influence of these cropping systems on pest disease management, subsequent yield vegetables. Aphids diamondback moths (DBM), major pests in kale production, together grasshoppers were consistently lower VIPP plots. Low incidences damage by leafminers, whiteflies fruitflies observed plots...
Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, is a significant global agricultural pest known for its rapid invasion and devastating impact on crops. While pesticides may be effective controlling the in short‐term, they cause several socioeconomic ecological costs that highlight need more sustainable management strategies. Telenomus remus (Nixon) promising egg parasitoid biological control. For to provide ecosystem services, it should able survive coexist within same niches...
In savanna ecosystems, fire is common, yet little known on the direct and long-term effects of prescribed burns arthropod abundance, richness, diversity, composition. To understand impact arthropods at Kruger National Park (KNP), standardized pitfall traps active searches were used to collect unburnt, annually burnt, triennially burnt plots experimental (EBPs). Abundance, assemblage composition compared across EBPs. Results showed that from order Hymenoptera, particularly those in family...
The current changes in global climatic regimes present a significant societal challenge, affecting all likelihood insect physiology, biochemistry, biogeography and population dynamics. With the increasing resistance of many pest species to chemical insecticides an organic food market, control strategies are slowly shifting towards more sustainable, ecologically sound economically viable options. Biologically based management such opportunities through predation or parasitism pests plant...
Abstract Lepidopteran stemborers are the most destructive insect pests of cereal crops in sub‐Saharan Africa. In nature, these insects often exposed to multiple environmental stressors, resulting potent impact on their thermal tolerance. Such stressors may influence activity, survival, abundance and biogeography. present study, we investigate effects acclimation temperature, starvation desiccation tolerance, measured as critical limits [critical minima (CT min ) maxima max )]...
Summary Production of cereal crops in sub-Saharan Africa is threatened by parasitic striga weeds and attack stemborers the invasive fall armyworm (FAW), compounded increasing hot dry conditions. A climate-smart push-pull technology (PPT) significantly reduces effects these biotic challenges. To improve further resilience system to climate change, more adapted suitable companion plants were identified integrated a new version PPT, termed ‘third generation PPT’. Our study evaluates field...
While the impacts of extreme and rising mean temperatures are well documented, increased thermal variability associated with climate change may also threaten ectotherm fitness survival, but remains poorly explored. Using three wild collected coprophagic species Copris elphenor, Metacatharsius opacus Scarabaeus zambezianus, we explored effects amplitude around on tolerance. standardized protocols, measured traits high- (critical maxima [CTmax] heat knockdown time [HKDT]) -low temperature...
Abstract Africa hosts several economically significant lepidopteran cereal stemborer species belonging to the C rambidae, N octuidae and P yralidae families. The invasive spotted ( hilo partellus S winhoe), which is native A sia, one of most damaging stemborers in frica. impact . on indigenous remains unclear, although recent work demonstrates its increasing ecological influence numerical advantage over esamia calamistis B usseola fusca frican landscapes. In present study, we discuss...