Ms Samantha Bush
| Technician: Insect Rearing | |
Department |
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FABI |
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| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
I have an MSc(Entomology) from the University of Pretoria. The focus of my project was on the tree variety preference of a forestry pest, and the host specificity of a potential biological control agent.
I oversee a small team of dedicated entomologists answering insect related questions for the forestry and agricultural industries. The questions that we work on are varied, we are heavily involved in assessing potential biocontrol agents, releasing agents and then undertaking post-release evaluations of parasitism rates. In addition to our biological control work, we also conduct lab and in-field trials to assess plant variety preference, and conduct lab bioassays using artificial diet, among other projects.
A significant part of my responsibilities involves overseeing our insect quarantine facility. This facility has been purpose built to contain potential biological control agents while we conduct research into their safety and efficacy.
My Journal Articles
| Publication |
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| Makunde PT, Slippers B, Bush S, Hurley BP. (2025) Host specificity and host stage preference of Psyllaephagus species (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) towards invasive eucalypt psyllids (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology :1-13.
10.1111/afe.12679 |
Makunde PT, Slippers B, Bush SJ, Hurley BP. (2023) Biology of the invasive shell lerp psyllid, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae). African Entomology 31( e13747)
10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a13747  |
| Wondafrash M, Slippers B, Asfaw BA, Makowe IA, Jenya H, Bush S, Kayumba I, Nambazimana A, van der Lingen S, Hurley BP. (2021) Tracing the distribution of natural enemies of non-native invasive eucalypt insect pests in sub- Saharan Africa. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 83(3):1-10.
10.2989/20702620.2021.1960218 |
| Bush SJ, Slippers B, Hurley BP. (2020) Eucalypt susceptibility towards the invasive Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) in South Africa. Southern Forests 82:243-252.
10.2989/20702620.2020.1824556 |
| Bush SJ, Slippers B, Dittrich-Schröder G, Hurley BP. (2020) Host specificity tests reveals new host of a global biological control agent Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). African Entomology 28:238-248.
10.4001/003.028.0238 |
| Bush SJ, Dittrich-Schröder D, Neser S, Gevers C, Baffoe KO, Slippers B, Hurley BP. (2018) First record of Quadristichus mendeli, a parasitoid of Leptocybe invasa, in South Africa. Southern Forests
10.2989/20702620.2017.1318347 |
| Bush SJ, Slippers B, Neser S, Harney M, Dittrich-Schröder G, Hurley BP. (2016) Six recently recorded Australian insects associated with Eucalyptus in South Africa. African Entomology 24(2):539-544.
10.4001/003.024.0539 |
| Hajek AE, Hurley BP, Kenis M, Garnas J, Bush SJ, Wingfield MJ, Lenteren JCV, Cock MJW. (2016) Exotic biological control agents: a solution or contribution to arthropod invasions?. Biological Invasions 18(4):953-969.
10.1007/s10530-016-1075-8 |
| Dittrich-Schroder G, Harney M, Neser S, Joffe T, Bush S, Hurley BP, Wingfield MJ, Slippers B. (2014) Biology and host preference of Selitrichodes neseri: A potential biological control agent of the Eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa. Biological Control 78:33-41.
10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.07.004 |
| Mutitu EK, Garnas JR, Hurley BP, Wingfield MJ, Harney M, Bush SJ, Slippers B. (2013) Biology and rearing of Cleruchoides noackae (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid for the biological control of Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae). Journal of Economic Entomology 106:1979-1985.
10.1603/EC13135 |