Entomology Masters Candidate

Office: S11, Second Floor, Life Science Building
Email: g14r3790@campus.ru.ac.za

BSc, Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University (2017)
BSc (Hons), Entomology, Rhodes University (2018)

Thesis title: The weevil Listronotus frontalis Gyllenhal 1834 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a potential biological control agent for the invasive weed Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelmann) J.G. Smith (Alismataceae) in South Africa

Supervisors: Dr Grant Martin and Prof. Julie Coetzee

Daniel is a Grahamstown local who initially became attracted to biocontrol through an internship programme he completed at Rhodes University while still in high school. Since his decision to study entomology in his second year of university, his enthusiasm and interest in biocontrol have only grown. Daniel will be working on a relatively new invasive plant in South Africa, commonly known as delta arrowhead, and will be surveying various populations of the plant around the country. He will also be running various tests on a potential biocontrol agent, Listronotus frontalis, to determine its suitability to control this invasive plant in South Africa. He hopes to use his experienced gained through his studies to help South African communities who are dealing with water shortages caused by invasive plants.

My mindset going into my MSc degree is best captured by this quote by Michael Scott, from the TV series The Office:

“I know exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I have no idea what to do”

Last Modified: Thu, 28 Feb 2019 10:47:55 SAST