Innocent Rakubu, a PhD candidate at FABI, received the Travel Award from the Nematode Division of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology (SIP) to support his attendance at the SIP 2025 meeting in Puerto Varas, Chile from 3-7 August.

The meeting was attended by distinguished researchers from various countries and provided a platform for the presentation and discussion of research on different topics related to the management of insect pests, including the use of bacteria, fungi, viruses and nematodes, as well as the development of biopesticides.

Innocent proudly represented FABI and the University of Pretoria at the southernmost country in the world, obtaining first prize for his oral presentation in the Nematode Division titled "Non-lethal effects of entomopathogenic nematodes on white grubs".

Innocent’s research builds on that of previous students and Postdocs at FABI, to investigate the use of entomopathogenic nematodes as an alternative method to chemical control.

Well done Innocent!

List of articles on EPNs published by Fabians

Abate, B. A., Malan, A. P., Tiedt, L. R., Wingfield, M. J., Slippers, B., & Hurley, B. P. (2016). Steinernema fabiin. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa. Nematology, 18(2), 235-255.

Abate, B. A., Wingfield, M. J., Slippers, B., & Hurley, B. P. (2017). Commercialisation of entomopathogenic nematodes: should import regulations be revised?. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 27(2), 149-168.

Abate, B. A., Slippers, B., Wingfield, M. J., Malan, A. P., & Hurley, B. P. (2018). Diversity of entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacteria in South African plantations and indigenous forests. Nematology, 20(4), 355-371.

Abate, B. A., Slippers, B., Wingfield, M. J., Conlong, D. E., Burger, D. A., & Hurley, B. P. (2019). Virulence and survival of native entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of white grubs in South Africa. Biological Control, 137, 104043.

Katumanyane, A., Malan, A. P., Tiedt, L. R., & Hurley, B. P. (2020). Steinernema bertusi n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa. Nematology, 22(3), 343-360.

Katumanyane, A., Slippers, B., Wondafrash, M., Malan, A. P., & Hurley, B. P. (2023a). Susceptibility of white grubs from forestry and sugarcane plantations in South Africa to entomopathogenic nematodes. Biocontrol, 68(2), 155-167.

Katumanyane, A., Slippers, B., Wondafrash, M., Malan, A. P., & Hurley, B. P. (2023b). Natural infection of white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with entomopathogenic nematodes in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Journal of Helminthology, 97, e54.

Katumanyane, A., Slippers, B., Wondafrash, M., Malan, A. P., & Hurley, B. P. (2023). Mechanisms behind differential white grub host susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematodes. Nematology, 25(7), 749-760.

Rakubu, I. L., Katumanyane, A., & Hurley, B. P. (2024a). Host-foraging strategies of five local entomopathogenic nematode species in South Africa. Crop Protection, 176, 106525.

Rakubu, I. L., Katumanyane, A., & Hurley, B. P. (2024b). Screening five local entomopathogenic nematode species for their virulence against pupae of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. n. 2, under laboratory conditions. Crop Protection, 176, 106500.