Alien invasive insects affect invaded regions directly or/and indirectly. The direct effects include parasitising or predating on a native host or prey, feeding on native plants, and hybridizing with native species. Indirectly, invasive insects affect invaded environments by competing for a resource with natives, displacing native species, playing a role in disease transmission and sharing natural enemies with native species. My research focuses on the Deodar weevil, Pissodes nemorensis, native to North America. This insect was accidentally introduced into South Africa and currently distributed throughout pine growing provinces of the country on all commercial Pinus spp. I am investigating its identity and genetic diversity, distribution and prevalence of its natural enemies, its co-occurrence with another invasive insect pest (the Sirex woodwasp, Sirex noctilio), and how it utilises different Pinus spp. for maturation feeding and breeding purpose.

In general, my research interest focuses on entomological and nematological research, more specifically on the ecology, diversity, and management of insect pests and on plant-mediated insect-nematode interactions and the underlying molecular and physiological mechanisms.