News

7 Mar 2014

New Eucalyptus pest

Another insect feeding on Eucalyptus species was recently detected by Prof. Stefan Neser in Pretoria. The identity of this insect must still be confirmed, but it is expected to be in the genus Spondyliaspis (shell lerp psyllids). As with the red gum lerp pysllid (Glycaspis brimblecombeii), detected in South Africa in 2012, this pysllid is a sap-sucking insect where the nymphs are covered by a protective casing called a lerp. In the case of Spondyliaspis the lerp has the appearance of a shell, he

4 Feb 2014

Major International Forestry Award to FABI researcher

Prof Jolanda Roux (FABI and Dept of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, UP) has recently heard that she will receive the IUFRO SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the next IUFRO World Congress to be held in Salt Lake City, USA, later this year. This award is testimony to the international recognition of the research conducted by Jolanda and other staff members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) at FABI.

10 Jan 2014

Fungus threatens to wipe out city's Jacarandas

Attached an article that appeared in the Pretoria News newspaper on 26 October 2013 after Prof Mike Wingfield of FABI mentioned in a seminar that the City's famous Jacaranda trees are threatened by a fungus.

9 Jan 2014

Limited options to manage Myrtle rust in SA

In the attached an article about Myrtle rust in the the Farmer's Weekly that appeared in the issue of 19 July 2013.

9 Jan 2014

Breaking news: Biological control agent for Thaumastocoris peregrinus to be released in South Africa

The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) based at FABI has recently received permission from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to release the parasitic wasp Cleruchoides noackae (Mymaridae), for the biological control of the Bronze Bug, Thaumastocoris peregrinus. This is an incredibly important milestone in terms of ensuring sustainable plantation forestry in South Africa and it marks the culmination of a long

9 Jan 2014

FABI 2011 - 2013 Biennial Report

The Biennial Report of FABI for the period 2011-2013 has been released this week.

1 Sep 2013

Pest alert: Red gum lerp psyllid

11 Aug 2013

Update on Glycaspis brimblecombei (red gum lerp psyllid)

The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei, is a pest of Eucalyptus species that has spread from Australia into many Eucalyptus growing countries, where it can cause substantial losses. Photos: The red gum lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei (top, photo by Harsi S.

6 Aug 2013

One year of releasing Selitrichodes neseri: biocontrol agent for Leptocybe invasa

It has been about one year since the first releases of Selitrichodes neseri, biological control agent for Leptocybe invasa.

14 Jun 2013

New IUFRO President

Prof Mike Wingfield, Director of FABI and the TPCP, has this week been elected as the new president of IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations). We would like to congratulate Mike with this major achievement that will greatly benefit the South African forestry industry and forestry research in South Africa.

1 Nov 2012

Insect pests of Eucalyptus - Challenges and opportunities for their management

Article appeared in Wood SA & Timber Times in November 2012.

27 Jul 2012

Biological control agent for Leptocybe invasa released

July 25 2012 was an important day for forest protection in South Africa, as it marked the first release of Selitrichodes neseri, the biological control agent for the eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa.

1 Dec 2010