Dr Andrew Hayes a Forest Health Research Fellow with the Forest Industries Research Centre at Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast presented a special seminar at the FABI Monday Morning Meeting on 3 November. His presentation “Eucalyptus trees I have known” gave a general overview of the more than 900 species of Eucalyptus native to Australia but focussed specifically on the effects of hybridisation on physical and foliar characteristics in Corymbia torelliana and C. variagata hybrid crosses that are important plantation trees in subtropics. He also gave an overview of Phoracanthra beetles that are a significant pest of eucalypts globally and their impact specifically on these Corymbia hybrids. Andrew was visiting South Africa to attend the Joint IUFRO meeting of Working Parties 7.03.13 and 7.03.16: Intersection of Behavioural / Chemical Ecology and Biological Control in Forest Ecosystems held at the Future Africa campus from 28-30 October.