Dr Privilege Makunde
| Postdoctoral Fellow | |
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 am a postdoctoral researcher at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, where I focus on augmentative and conservation biological control of key forest pests in pine and eucalypt systems. My current research targets two high-impact species: the pine brown tail moth, Euproctis terminalis, a native insect that has shifted onto pine, and Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. n. 2, an invasive pest of eucalypts in South Africa.
I completed my PhD in 2022, investigating the biology and ecology of invasive eucalypt psyllids, providing insights critical for their sustainable management. Since 2023, my postdoctoral work has advanced biocontrol strategies to reduce reliance on chemical control and improve resilience in plantation forestry.
My broader expertise spans forest entomology, invasive species ecology, nematology, and applied biological control, with a strong focus on translating research into practical, field-ready solutions for sustainable pest management.
News
FABI was honoured to host the Joint International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) meeting of IUFRO working parties 7.03.13 and 7.03.16.
FABI had a strong presence at the 24th Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA), with 18 members in attendance.
Four FABIans attended the 27th International Congress of Entomology in Kyoto, Japan.
Three FABIans presented at the recent IUFRO Division 7 Joint Meeting that took place in Japan.
Twenty four FABIans attended and presented at the recent 23rd Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa.
A team from the TPCP, together with the Cropwatch Africa team, visited the southern Cape to test and implement protocols to survey young pine stands for pests and pathogens.
Congratulations to Privilege Makunde on successfully completing his PhD.
Fourteen FABIans attended the recent IUFRO All Division 7 (Tree Health) Meeting in Lisbon where they contributed 38 presentations.
Some 40 FABI students and interns working in the TPCP, CPHB and GRP participated in the last tree planting event for 2021.
After an 18 month hiatus, FABI celebrated the first publications in an ISI-rated scientific journal of three FABI postgraduate students in the TPCP and CTHB groups
From 28 June until 1 July, academic staff, postdoctoral Fellows and students from FABI attended the 22nd Biennial Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA) Congress.
Two FABI PhD candidates were recognized for research excellence by the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF).
The IUFRO Working Party 7.03.13 meeting on the ‘Biological Control of Forest Insect Pests and Pathogens’ was hosted by FABI from 5-8 November.
From 3-5 November, participants from Government research institutes and universities gathered at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Campus, for a Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA) workshop on the implementation of classical biological control to manage insect pests in plantation forests.
Thaumastocoris peregrinus, the bronze bug, is not only a pest attacking Eucalyptus in South Africa but is also a problem in several other African countries.
My Book Chapters
| Book Chapters |
|---|
| Makunde PT, Zeng Y, Patel DJ. 2023. Nematode problems in tobacco and their sustainable management. In: Khan, M.R., & Quintanilla, M., Nematode Diseases of Crops and their Sustainable Management. Elsevier, pp 623 - 640. |
My Journal Articles
| Publication |
|---|
| 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, Hurley BP. (2024) Exploring the diversity of leafrollers (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) associated with eucalypts in South African forestry nurseries and plantations, with a new report of Strepsicrates sp.. Southern Forests 86(4):1-8.
10.2989/20702620.2024.2394219 |
| Makunde PT, Slippers B, Hurley BP. (2024) First report of the giant conifer aphid, Cinara pinivora (Wilson) and the Monterey pine aphid, Essigella californica (Essig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in South Africa. Southern Forests 86:1-5.
10.2989/20702620.2024.2394218 |
| Makunde PT, Joubert JC, Slippers B, Hurley BP, Hammerbacher A. (2023) Leaf surface traits may influence host specificity in psyllids of Eucalyptus, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) and Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae). Chemoecology 33:83-98.
10.1007/s00049-023-00387-x |
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  |
| Makunde PT, Dimbi S, Mahere TS, Banana S, Chinheya CC. (2021) Evaluation of an improved Katambora grass cultivar G HR1 for root-knot nematode management in tobacco. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 38(1):4.
10.1080/02571862.2020.1849832 |
| Makunde PT, Slippers B, Burckhardt D, de Queiroz DL, Lawson SA, Hurley BP. (2020) Current and potential threat of psyllids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) on eucalypts. Southern Forests 82:233-242.
10.2989/20702620.2020.1813650 |
| Makunde PT, Dimbi S, Mahere TS. (2018) Leguminous crops as an alternative rotation with tobacco to control Meloidogyne javanica. Journal of Entomology and Nematology 10(1):5.
10.5897/JEN2017.0192 |