On the 13th of October 2023, five Centre for Biological Control graduates crossed the stage. Four of them graduated with their master’s degrees and one changed their title to Doctor. We are very proud of all of them and would like to congratulate them on their achievements. Graduates and their thesis titles are below.
MSc graduates
DAMBUZA, Khalipha, BScHons (Rhodes), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Evaluation of potential repellents for false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Supervisor: Dr C Coombes. Co-supervisors: Distinguished Professor MP Hill and Professor S Moore (CRI).
KINSLER, David Louis, BScHons (Rhodes), in Geography, in the Department of Geography. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Remote sensing as a monitoring solution for water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) in the context of the biological control programme at Hartbeespoort Dam. Supervisor: Ms GK McGregor. Co-supervisor: Professor JA Coetzee.
MABUZA, Mefika Michael, BSc (UMP), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: The possible effects of insecticide drift from citrus orchards, and acute toxicity of insecticides on the biocontrol agents of Pontederia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub (Pontederiaceae) established along citrus orchards in the Lowveld region of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Supervisor: Distinguished Professor MP Hill. Co-supervisor: Mr L Mukwevho (UMP).
RICHARDSON, Perryn Heather, BScHons (Rhodes), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Characterisation of the False Codling Moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) gut microbiome and its host-microbe physiological interactions. Supervisor: Dr CA Owen. Co-supervisor: Professor JS Terblanche (Stell).
YELL, Liam Dougal, BScHons (Rhodes), in Entomology, with distinction, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: Native-range studies on insect herbivores associated with African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) in South Africa: prospects for biological control in Australia. Supervisor: Professor ID Paterson. Co-supervisor: Dr G Sutton.
PhD graduate
VAN STEENDEREN, Clarke Julian Mignon, MSc (Rhodes), in Entomology, in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. Degree by thesis. Thesis: A molecular investigation of stem-galling Tetramesa Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) on African grasses: applications to biological control. Supervisor: Dr G Sutton. Co-supervisor: Professor ID Paterson.
Then our very own Field technicians graduated with their MSc’s too. Zizile Mlungu and Esethu Nkibi. Congrats!