A5051227366- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Allelopathy and phytotoxic interactions
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Research on scale insects
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Cassava research and cyanide
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
Rhodes University
2016-2025
Abstract Two new species of gall midges are described whose larvae feed on the small morphotype Guinea grass Megathyrsus maximus in Africa. Arabukodiplosis basalis Kolesik, gen. et sp. nov. causes galls at base plant's crown Kenya and vesicaria blister stems South Africa Kenya. Description morphology sequence a fragment COI mitochondrial gene insects provided. A genus is erected to contain two species. belongs supertribe Cecidomyiidi its closest relative Mitodiplosis Kieffer, 1914, an...
Abstract The genus Tetramesa Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) comprises over 200 species of herbivorous wasps that feed exclusively on grasses. Recent field surveys in South Africa for grass biological control programs have uncovered a large diversity potential African Here, mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase I [COI]) and nuclear (28S) genetic sequences were used to compare the outputs seven popular delimitation methods guide generation consensus boundaries putative taxa close relatives....
Thaumatotibia leucotreta, an important citrus pest in southern Africa, is subject to phytosanitary regulations for certain export markets. A systems approach has been developed as alternative standalone postharvest disinfestation methods, integrating multiple risk mitigation steps, including preharvest infestation monitoring. This study aimed validate existing monitoring protocol based on fallen fruit collected under designated data trees and develop a novel system sampling of sanitation...
The grain-producing regions of northern New South Wales and southern central Queensland are characterised by cropping systems that strongly dependent on stored soil moisture rather than in-crop rainfall, tillage increasingly reliant zero or minimum tillage. Crops grown relatively infrequently crop rotations dominated winter summer grains (wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. Moench], respectively), with smaller areas grain legumes cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). grey,...
Biological control is an effective and sustainable method for management of invasive alien plants (IAPs), has been implemented on 68 the 367 plant species that are listed as legally requiring strategies under South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004): Alien Invasive Species Regulations. With limited resources funding available, it can realistically only be considered a subset remaining which biocontrol not yet implemented. Considerable allocated towards in...
Abstract Biological control (biocontrol) of invasive alien plants is a widely utilised weed management tool. Prospective biocontrol agents are typically assessed through host specificity testing and pre‐release efficacy studies performed in quarantine. However, rearing the potential and/or test often difficult or impossible under quarantine conditions. Moreover, practitioners may attain laboratory artefacts quarantine, which result agent being needlessly rejected. Field‐based weed's...
We investigated host-plant utilisation by the candidate biocontrol agent Paradibolia coerulea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on target plant Spathodea campanulata Beauv. (Bignoniaceae) and a closely related non-target plant, Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. (Bignoniaceae). Paired-choice sequential no-choice experiments were performed coupled with olfactory discrimination to test insects' responses volatiles from both species as well cues conspecific beetles. Although K. was utilised P. coerulea,...
The six major mountain ranges in South Africa support critically important ecosystem services—notably water production—and are rich biodiversity and endemism. These mountains threatened by detrimental land uses, unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change, invasive alien plants. Invasive plants pose substantial rapidly increasing problems mountainous areas worldwide. However, little is known about the extent plant invasions Africa. This study assessed status African determining...
African lovegrass, Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees (Poaceae), is a perennial grass native to southern Africa that has become problematic in many countries, most notably Australia. A biological control programme against E. Australia been initiated mitigate the plant's negative impacts. We present field-based host-specificity observations of natural enemies distribution South and validate these with laboratory based no-choice tests. Only three insect species were consistently found utilising...
An undescribed phytophagous wasp belonging to the Tetramesa genus (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), that is native South Africa, currently being investigated as a potential weed biological control agent for invasive grass Eragrostis curvula (Poaceae) in Australia.Host-specificity testing underway but has not been exported into quarantine Australia and further research required before it could be considered release.Here, we used DNA barcoding demonstrate specimens collected on E. populations...
A systems approach was developed as an alternative to a standalone quarantine disinfestation treatment for Thaumatotibia leucotreta in citrus fruit exported from South Africa. The consists of three measures: pre and postharvest controls measurements, postpacking inspection, exposure low temperatures. Different cold conditions with range efficacy levels can be used this last measure. series trials reported here evaluated the seven temperatures ranging 0 5°C durations 14 d 26 d. Mortality most...
Historically, invasive alien grasses have not been considered a major threat in South Africa, and as result, very few resources are allocated to their management. However, there is an increasing awareness of the severe environmental socio-economic impacts need for appropriate management options control. Africa has long history successfully implementing weed biological control (biocontrol) manage plants, however much like rest world, do feature prominently targets biocontrol. The...