Mrs Marlene Harney

Technical Staff
Tree Protection Co-operative Programme

Research Interests

Tree Protection Co-operative Programme

Research Interest

I am part of a team that focuses on the biological control of forest insect pests. Two

of our current programmes are aimed at searching for suitable parasitoid wasps to
control the spread of Leptocybe invasa and Thaumastocoris peregrinus, which are
both invasive pests on Eucalyptus trees. We are testing five different species under
quarantine conditions and it is my responsibility to develop rearing programs for
these parasitoids. This requires an understanding of the taxonomy, biology and
living conditions of the insects, as well as a good background knowledge of plant
diseases and pests. I am also responsible for the curation and development of an
insect reference collection and the implementation and maintenance of the Insect
Bionumerics Database.

Previous Research
After the completion of my honours degree in Entomology at the University of Pretoria, I
joined the Agricultural Research Council where I conducted taxonomic research on insects
associated with stored grain for nine years. My research culminated in an identification
guide, "A Guide to the Insects of Stored Grain in South Africa", which is marketed by the
ARC. My husband was then transferred to West Africa by his employer and for the next 15
years we lived abroad in five different countries. During this period I was involved in various
environmental projects, including a small wetland nature reserve in Ireland in a voluntary
capacity. Following our return to South Africa, I joined the FABI team in May 2009.