Two leaders on biological control presented seminars at FABI on 12 November. Dr Maartje Klapwijk of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, Sweden, started the session with her presentation titled “Trophic interactions in the Anthropocene”. Professor Tim Paine of the University of California, Riverdale in the US, followed with “Invasive ambrosia beetles: Biology and control.” The two guests were keynote speakers at the Meeting of the IUFRO Working Group 7.03.13 on Biological Control of Forest Insect Pests and Pathogens from 6-8 November at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus. The meeting was the first gathering of the working group held on African soil.

An insect ecologist interested in insect populations and forest management, Dr Klapwijk discussed changes in insect species interactions because of climate change. She discussed the effects of temperature, rainfall and forest structure on insect population fluctuations. Prof. Paine discussed the challenges faced in California with infestations of the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB). Though infestations were concentrated in urban forests, Prof. Paine said there was concern that the PSHB was a threat to indigenous forests. He said chipping and solarisation were so far successful in managing the spread of the beetles from infested trees but the movement of firewood could lead to introductions in new areas. Investigations were ongoing on the biological control of the three fungal symbionts of the beetle as well as other management strategies, he said.