Background
I completed a BSc (Agriculture) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Thereafter I conducted research in collaboration with the South African Sugarcane Research Institute (SASRI), Mount Edgecombe, Durban on Scarabaeids as well as a potential biocontrol agent of the stalk borer, Eldana saccharina. My MSc focused on identifying Scarabaeid larvae, problematic in sugarcane, by using molecular techniques to link unidentified larvae to identified beetles. Subsequently, a field key and electronic key, using Lucid 3.4 software, were developed to allow identification of larvae in sugarcane fields.
My PhD was conducted at FABI, the University of Pretoria, focusing on the molecular ecology and management of Leptocybe invasa(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in South Africa. Leptocybe invasa is a minute gall-forming wasp and an emerging pest of Eucalyptusspp. throughout the world and has become one of the most threatening insect pests to Eucalyptusplantation forestry.
Combined analyses of sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene region and simple sequence repeat markers revealed two distinct lineages amongst global populations of L. invasa. One of these lineages corresponded to the originally described L. invasa,and is present in most populations around the world. The second lineage occurred in specimens mostly from Asia, with the exception of Ghana, and is most similar to currently known native populations from Australia. There was little genetic diversity within the two lineages in invasive populations, and they appeared to represent at least two introductions. The native Australian population was found to have a relatively high level of genetic diversity.
The primary control options for L. invasaare biological control and deployment of tolerant/resistant Eucalyptusspecies or hybrid clones. Collection of galled Eucalyptustissue in Australia yielded large numbers of an undescribed hymenopteran, which was subsequently described as Selitrichodes neseri(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). The biology of this wasp and its suitability as a potential biological control agent was studied, including host specificity and evaluating its potential impact as a parasitoid of . The second important method of control is the breeding or selection of tolerant/resistant material. Work conducted in this study compared the susceptibility of commercially available, as well as company specific clones and species to attack by . Considerable variation was observed between genotypes of species, illustrating the potential of host resistance for management.