The 24^th Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA) was held from 8-11 July at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The event brought together researchers, students, and professionals from across the region to share the latest findings across diverse entomology disciplines, including agricultural entomology, biodiversity, conservation and climate change, biological control, soil biodiversity, Diptera, Lepidoptera, taxonomy, medical and forensic entomology, edible insects, technological innovation, and more.

FABI had a strong presence at the congress, with 18 members in attendance. These included research leaders such as Profs Brett Hurley, Gerda Fourie, Chris Weldon, and Dr Honest Machekano, alongside researchers and students including Dr Rosali Moffat, Dr Wilma Nel, Samantha Bush (researcher), Dr Privilege Makunde (postdoc), PhD students Ndamulelo Nengovhela and Innocent Rakubu, and MSc students Aviwe Simandla, Zimazile Jazi, Dylan Pullock, Nigel Kombora, Chulumanco Majavu, and Thembeka Mkhize. Most attendees also contributed presentations.

The team showcased its entomological research through 12 oral presentations and three posters. Notably, MSc student Thembeka Mkhize earned third place in the Best Student Presentation award category - an achievement that highlights the calibre of student research within the institute.

Oral presentations

Jazi Z, Makunde PT, Hurley B, Schröder ML. Dispersal behaviour of Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): perspectives and implications for augmentative biological control.

Moffat R, van Steenderen C, Fourie G. A small insect with a big impact: degree-day and species distribution modelling to improve our understanding of Macadamia felted coccid in southern Africa.

Majavu C, Hurley B, Sivparsad B, Germishuizen I, Gossa M, Dittrich-Schröder G. Identification and infestation drivers of white grubs and cutworms in South African forest plantations.

Rakubu I, Wondafrash M, Ramakuwela T, Hurley B. Non-lethal effects of entomopathogenic nematodes on white grubs.

Makunde PT, Slippers B, Roux J, Rodas CA, Bush S, Cerretti P, Hurley B. Tachinid diversity in Euproctis terminalis: a step towards augmentative and conservation biocontrol.

Mkhize T, Fourie G, Slippers B, Venter S. Identifying alternative plant hosts of Bathycoelia distincta through molecular analysis of the gut content.

Simandla A, Slippers B, Theyse M, Hurley B. Risk profile for potential pest introductions to plantation forests considering trade and pathways.

Nel W, Duong T, Fell S, Herron D, Paap T, Wingfield M, de Beer W, Hulcr J, Johnson A. The diversity of bark and ambrosia beetles in South Africa.

Kombora N, Hurley B, Sivparsad B, Germishuizen I. Understanding the impact of defoliating insects on growth and productivity of Eucalyptus dunnii using artificial defoliation.

Machekano H, Mubayiwa M, Mlambo S, Mutamiswa R, Tarusikirwa V, Mvumi B, Nyamukondiwa C. Opportunities and risks for grain heat treatment under current and projected insect climate.

Moabi T, Bose T, Mudavanhu P, Machekano H. High potential isolates of indigenous fungal entomopathogens collected from small-scale farming areas in South Africa.

Pullock D, Manrakhan A, Bekker G, Weldon C. Pest fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) population fluctuations in a mixed production landscape of North-West Province, South Africa.

Posters

Slabbert D, Hammerbacher A, Hurley B, Nel W. Unravelling the underlying reason for aborted attacks of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer on different pecan varieties.

Nengovhela N, Hammerbacher A, Slippers B. Chemical resistance of soybean against Helicoverpa armigera.

Bush S, Dittrich-Schröder G, Slippers B, Hurley P.  Import, rearing and release of classical biological control agents to combat non-native forestry pests.