Research Articles (Conservation Ecology and Entomology)
Recent Submissions
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Guiding classical biological control of an invasive mealybug using integrative taxonomy
(Public Library of Science, 2015)Delottococcus aberiae De Lotto (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a mealybug of Southern African origin that has recently been introduced into Eastern Spain. It causes severe distortions on young citrus fruits and represents ...
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Divergent thermal specialisation of two South African entomopathogenic nematodes
(PeerJ, 2015-07-02)Thermal physiology of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) is a critical aspect of field performance and fitness. Thermal limits for survival and activity, and the ability of these limits to adjust (i.e., show phenotypic ...
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Identifying challenges to building an evidence base for restoration practice
(MDPI, 2015-11-30)Global acknowledgement of ecological restoration, as an important tool to complement conservation efforts, requires an effort to increase the effectiveness of restoration interventions. Evidence-based practice is purported ...
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Sexual dimorphism in bite performance drives morphological variation in chameleons
(PLoS, 2014-01-27)Phenotypic performance in different environments is central to understanding the evolutionary and ecological processes that drive adaptive divergence and, ultimately, speciation. Because habitat structure can affect an ...
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The soil bacterial communities of South African fynbos riparian ecosystems invaded by Australian Acacia species
(PLoS, 2014-01-24)Riparian ecosystem along rivers and streams are characterised by lateral and longitudinal ecological gradients and, as a result, harbour unique biodiversity. Riparian ecosystems in the fynbos of the Western Cape, South ...
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The unknown underworld : understanding soil health in South Africa
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2014-05)The need to provide food security to a growing human population in the face of global threats such as climate change, land transformation, invasive species and pollution is placing increasing pressure on South African ...
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Rocky shores of a major southern African marine protected area are almost free from intertidal invertebrate alien species
(AOSIS Publishing, 2014-05-23)A major threat to marine ecosystems is the establishment and proliferation of invasive alien species. This study addresses gaps in our knowledge regarding marine alien invertebrate species in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve ...
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Realising the value of continuous monitoring programmes for biodiversity conservation
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2014-11-26)There is an increased need for support for continuous biodiversity monitoring programmes in commodity production landscapes; the pressure for such supports arises from a variety of sources. We highlight our rediscovery of ...
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Food preference and foraging activity of ants : recommendations for field applications of low-toxicity baits
(Entomological Society of America, 2014-04-10)Control of ants using baits of low toxicity cannot be effective without knowledge of bait distribution patterns and bait station densities, which are determined by ants’ foraging activities. Furthermore, the success of ...
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Exploring the gap between ecosystem service research and management in development planning
(MDPI, 2014-06)The gap between science and practice has been highlighted in a number of scientific disciplines, including the newly developing domain of ecosystem service science, posing a challenge for the sustainable management of ...
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Production and quality assurance in the SIT Africa mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) rearing facility in South Africa
(Florida Entomological Society, 2007-03)A mass-rearing facility for Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) was commissioned in Stellenbosch in 1999 to produce sterile male fruit flies for a sterile insect technique (SIT) project in commercial ...
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Niche overlap of congeneric invaders supports a single- species hypothesis and provides insight into future invasion risk: implications for global management of the bactrocera dorsalis complex
(PLoS, 2014-02)Background: The invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens, has expanded its range rapidly over the past 10 years. Here we aimed to determine if the recent range expansion of Bactrocera invadens into southern Africa can be ...
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Heterorhabditis noenieputensis n. sp. (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa
(Cambridge University Press - CUP, 2012-12)A new entomopathogenic nematode in the genus Heterorhabditis is described from South Africa, from two singular isolates found 1000km from each other, from beneath a fig tree and in a citrus orchard, respectively. ...
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The Potential Use of Entomopathogenic Nematodes to Control Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
(South African Society for Enology and Viticulture, 2013-08)Laboratory bioassays were conducted to establish the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as biocontrol agents of Planococcus ficus (Signoret). Six indigenous and two commercially available nematode species ...
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An overview of the vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus) in South African vineyards and the use of entomopathogenic nematodes as potential biocontrol agent
(South African Society for Enology and Viticulture, 2013-02)The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which is the dominant mealybug species in South Africa, is a severe wine and table grape pest and disease vector. Their increasing resistance to chemical ...
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Cover crops with biofumigation properties for the suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes : a review
(South African Society for Enology and Viticulture, 2013-08)Plant-parasitic nematodes are a problem in vineyards worldwide, with some species acting as vectors of grapevine soil-transmitted viruses. Global pressure on the use of soil-applied chemical nematicides has led to a ...
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Options for soil health measurement in vineyards and deciduous fruit orchards, with special reference to nematodes
(South African Society for Enology and Viticulture, 2013-07)Soil is a non-renewable resource and supports all land-based forms of life. The sustainable production of crops is becoming progressively more critical as human populations increase and viable agricultural land decreases. ...
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Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. noenieputensis subsp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium associated with a novel Heterorhabditis species related to Heterorhabditis indica
(Society for General Microbiology, 2013-05)The bacterial symbiont AM7T, isolated from a novel entomopathogenic nematode species of the genus Heterorhabditis, displays the main phenotypic traits of the genus Photorhabdus and is highly pathogenic to Galleria mellonella. ...
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Description of Xenorhabdus khoisanae sp. nov., the symbiont of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema khoisanae
(Society for General Microbiology, 2013-09)Bacterial strain SF87T, and additional strains SF80, SF362 and 106-C, isolated from the nematode Steinernema khoisanae, are non-bioluminescent Gram-reaction-negative bacteria that share many of the carbohydrate fermentation ...
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Effect of humidity and a superabsorbent polymer formulation on the efficacy of Heterorhabditis zealandica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) to control codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
(Taylor & Francis, 2013-12)Adequate moisture levels are required for nematode survival and subsequent efficacy as entomopathogens. Formulation of nematodes aimed at aboveground applications may assist in maintaining such moisture levels. In this ...
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Adjuvants to improve aerial control of the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) using entomopathogenic nematodes
(Cambridge University Press - CUP, 2013-11)The citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri, is a highly destructive pest of citrus, occurring only in the aerial parts of plants. Humidity will be one of the key factors to consider when using entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) ...
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Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of the banded fruit weevil, Phlyctinus callosus (Schonherr) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
(Cambridge University Press - CUP, 2013-02)Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) were evaluated for their potential use as biological control agents against Phlyctinus callosus, the banded fruit weevil (BFW). The susceptibility of larvae and adults to EPN was evaluated ...
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Suppression of codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) population in South African apple and pear orchards using Sterile Insect Release
(Acta Horticulturae, 2005-04)Codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidea), is the key pest of apples and pears in South Africa. To date the control of codling moth in apple and pear orchards has depended on the application of insecticides ...
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Heterorhabditis safricana n. sp. (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) : a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa
(Brill Academic Publishers, 2008-11)During a survey for entomopathogenic nematodes in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, a new species in the genus Heterorhabditis was collected from a peach orchard. The nematode was trapped by the insect-baiting ...
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Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida : Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae) against codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in temperate regions
(Taylor & Francis, 2011-09)The biocontrol potential of South African isolates of Heterorhabditis zealandica, Steinernema citrae, S. khoisanae, S. yirgalemense, and Steinernema sp., was evaluated against codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Codling moth ...
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Key elements in the successful control of diapausing codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in wooden fruit bins with a South African isolate of Heterorhabditis zealandica (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae)
(Taylor & Francis, 2010-01)The non-insecticidal control strategies currently being implemented in South African orchards for the control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) may be hampered bywooden fruit bins being infested with diapausing codling ...
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Differentiation of South African potato cyst nematodes (PCN) by analysis of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region
(SA ePublications, 2006)Cysts from nematode-infested plots on eight potato farms in the Sandveld and Ceres regions of South Africa were analysed by means of rDNA-RFLP. The size of the PCR amplification products for all populations was typical for ...
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Steinernema khoisanae n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) : a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa
(Brill Academic Publishers, 2006)A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema khoisanae n. sp. is described from South Africa. The new species is characterised by morphometrics of the infective juvenile with body length 1076 μm, narrow body ...
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Entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) from the southwestern parts of South Africa
(SA ePublications, 2006)Soil samples were collected in the southwestern parts of South Africa to obtain entomopathogenic nematodes of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae. In total, 498 samples were randomly taken from cultivated and ...
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Susceptibility of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and the Natal fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa) to entomopathogenic nematodes
(Elsevier, 2008-09)The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis zealandica and Steinernema khoisanae, to infect pupariating larvae, pupae and adults of Ceratitis capitata and Ceratitis rosa ...
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