PhD student
I graduated with a Biochemistry degree in 2017 at the University of Pretoria, and completed my Honours in Chemistry in 2018 at the same institution. It was in this time that I was exposed to the world of chromatography and structural elucidation of plant-extracted compounds that brought me closer to separation and structure determining techniques in gaseous state. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Chemical Ecology.
My MSc research was aimed toward finding, or validating pheromones from insect-derived headspace samples, specifically for the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. 2 (Curculionidae), and the Pine Emperor moth, Nudaurelia clarki(Saturniidae). This was achieved with laboratory methods including GC- EAD (Gas Chromatography and Electroantennography), GC-MS and micro-derivatization techniques. The pheromone of N. clarki was previously identified from N. cytherea - a species known to occur in the Cape. Thus, my research was focused on validating the usability of the same pheromone for N. clarki in field trials.
I am currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical Ecology. This study will build on the foundational work from my MSc for the Gonipterus sp. 2 and N. clarki, and will broaden the focus to include the Wattle Bagworm, Kotochalia junodi(Psychidae). The aim of this study is to identify attraction pheromones for the new species, and to attempt to show the usability of these pheromone blends in field trials. The study aims to ultimately identify species-specific pheromone tools for integrative pest management tactics for the chosen pest species in South Africa.
Even though my graduate studies are focused on the Chemistry of insects, I have always loved biological systems in general. The finer detailed understanding of how biological systems work individually and on an integrated level gets me excited- especially when I can apply it in some way. Human cell biology also holds a special place in my heart, and I hope to encounter some research in this field in the future.
I have many interests other than academics, including competitive ballroom and latin dancing, hiking and playing the violin.
Publications
Scheepers L., Allison J.D., Slippers B., Rohwer E.R., Mc Millan P.M., Bello J.E., Bouwer M.C. (2023). Pine Emperor moths from KwaZulu-Natal use the same pheromone component previously isolated from Nudaurelia cytherea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the Western Cape. African Entomology 31: 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a13231
Bouwer M.C., Scheepers L., Slippers B., Rohwer E.R., Allison J.D. (2021) The Sex Pheromone of the Pine Brown‑Tail Moth, Euproctis terminalis(Lepidoptera: Erebidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 47: 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-021-01301-x
Scheepers L., Allison J.D., Bouwer M.C, Rohwer E.R., Slippers B. (2020) Pheromones as management tools for non-Scolytinae Curculionidae: development and implementation considerations. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 82: 202-214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2020.1858204
Ramabulana T., Scheepers L, Moodley T. Maharaj V.J., Stander A., Gama N., Ferreira D., Sonopo M.S. and Selepe M.A. (2020) Bioactive Lignans from Hypoestes aristata. Journal of Natural Products 83: 2483-2489. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00443
Scheepers L., Slippers B., Bouwer M.C. and Rohwer E. (2019) Feromone van die denneboom Pou-oogmot (Pheromones of the Pine Emperor moth). Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36303/SATNT.2019.38.1.783
Scheepers L., Maharaj V. and Selepe M.A. “The identification and isolation of potential bioactive compounds from Hypoestes aristata by means of hyphenated modern instrumentation. (2018) Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie. Link
Poster/ Oral presentations
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer and J. D. Allison. “Sex pheromone of Nudaurelia spp. in South Africa (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)” | Oral presentation | American Chemical Society (ACS) Annual Fall meeting | Early Career Symposium | Online | 13-17 Aug 2023
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer and J. D. Allison. “The Wattle bagworm pheromone: Analytical investigations and development of a pest management tool” | Poster presentation | 23rd Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA) | Stellenbosch, South Africa | 11-14 July 2023
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer and J. D. Allison. “A journey of pheromone discovery of the wattle bagworm” | Oral presentation | Suid-Afrikaanse Wetenskap en Kunste Studentesimposium (SAAWK) | Pretoria, South Africa | 3-4 November 2022
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer, J. D. Allison, J. E. Bello and M. C. Bouwer. “The pheromone of the pine emperor moth, Nudaurelia clarki (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)” | Oral presentation | IUFRO Working Party 7.03.16 Graduate Student Webinar Series| Online | 24 January 2022
L. Scheepers, J. D. Allison, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer, P. M. Mc Millan, J. E. Bello and M. C. Bouwer. “The major pheromone component identity of the Pine Emperor moth, Nudaurelia clarki (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), is confirmed” | Oral presentation | 36th Annual meeting of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) Poster session 4 #49| Online | 5-10 September 2021
L. Scheepers and Q. Guignard. “Research and Development of new attraction tools for insect pests at FABI” |Oral presentation| 32nd Annual meeting of the Tree Protection Co-Operative Programme (TPCP) and the DSI NRF Centre Of Excellence In Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB) | 4 May 2021
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, E. R. Rohwer, J. D. Allison, J. E. Bello and M. C. Bouwer. “Pheromone field trapping of Nudaurelia clarki (Saturniidae) in South African pine plantations” | Oral presentation | Entomological Society of America (ESA) Annual meeting | Online | 11- 25 November 2020
L. Scheepers, B. Slippers, M.C. Bouwer and E.R Rohwer. “Feromone van die denneboom Pou-oogmot” (“Pheromones of the Pine Emperor moth”) | Poster presentation | Suid-Afrikaanse Wetenskap en Kunste Studentesimposium (SAAWK) | Pretoria, South Africa | 25- 26 October 2018
Scheepers L., Maharaj V. and Selepe M.A. “The identification and isolation of potential bioactive compounds from by means of hyphenated modern instrumentation” | Poster presentation |Suid-Afrikaanse Wetenskap en Kunste Studentesimposium (SAAWK) | Pretoria, South Africa | 2-3 November 2017
Luki-Marie Scheepers, Jeremy D. Allison, Bernard Slippers, Egmont R. Rohwer, Patrick M. Mc Millan, Jan E. Bello. (2023) Pine Emperor moths from KwaZulu-Natal use the same pheromone component previously isolated from Nudaurelia cytherea (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from the Western Cape. African Entomology 10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a13231
Bouwer MC, Scheepers L, Slippers B, Rohwer ER, Allison JD. (2021) The Sex Pheromone of the Pine Brown-Tail Moth, Euproctis terminalis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 10.1007/s10886-021-01301-x
Scheepers L, Allison JD, Bouwer MC, Rohwer ER, Slippers B. (2020) Pheromones as management tools for non-Scolytinae Curculionidae: development and implementation considerations. Southern Forests 10.2989/20702620.2020.1858204
Awards
One of three student finalists representing Africa | Oral presentation | IUFRO Working Party 7.03.16 Graduate Student Webinar Series| Online | 5 February 2022
Second place in poster session | Poster presentation |Suid-Afrikaanse Wetenskap en Kunste Studentesimposium (SAAWK) | Pretoria, South Africa | 2-3 November 2017