I am passionate about insects, plants and conserving the environment. Having a good understanding of our natural world and implementing those principles will result into safer more sustainable pest management practices.
I completed my masters and PhD at the Centre for Biological Control, Rhodes University. I worked on the biological control of an invasive aquatic weed in South Africa. Thereafter, I was a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Biological Control, focussing on the implementation of water hyacinth biological control in the Gauteng and North West provinces. Environmental issues involve parties from all spheres, so one of my aims was to strengthen the socio-ecological resilience of invaded water bodies.
Currently I am working on pest insects within the macadamia industry.
Highlights
Research Output
Publications in peer-reviewed/refereed journals
Moffat R., Weaver K., Ngxande-Koza S., Sebola K., English K., Kinsler D., Coetzee J.A. 2024. Bridging boundaries: Six years of community engagement with biological control implementation and monitoring of water hyacinth on Hartbeespoort Dam, South Africa. Biological Control. 194.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105544
Moffat R., van Noort S., Coetzee J.A., Hill M.P. 2024. Biotic resistance towards Hydrellia egeriae, a biological control agent for the aquatic weed Egeria densa, in South Africa. African Entomology. 32.https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2024/a15718
Smith R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2022. Best of both worlds: The thermal physiology of Hydreelia egeriae, a biological control agent for the submerged aquatic weed, Egeria densain South Africa. : 365-374.
van Noort S., Smith R. & Coetzee J.A. 2021. Identity of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae and Eulophidae) reared from aquatic leaf-mining flies (Diptera, Ephydridae) on invasive Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa in South Africa. African Invertebrates.62(1): 287–314. https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.62.62842
Coetzee J.A., Bownes A., Martin G.D., Miller B.E., Smith R., Weyl P.S.R. & Hill M.P. 2021. A review of the biological control programmes against aquatic weeds in South Africa. African Entomology29(3): 935-964. https://doi.org/10.4001/003.029.0935
Smith R., Mangan R. & Coetzee J.A. 2019. Risk assessment to interpret the physiological host range of Hydrellia egeriae, a biological control agent for Egeria densa. Biological control.64:447–456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-019-09942-
Hussner A., Smith R., Mettler-Altmann T., Hill M.P., Coetzee J.A. 2019. Simulated global increases in atmospheric CO2 alter the tissue composition, but not the growth of some submerged aquatic plant bicarbonate users growing in DIC rich waters. Aquatic Botany. 153: 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2018.11.009
Books and/or chapters in books
Hill M.P., Coetzee J.A., Martin G.D., Smith R. & Strange E.F. 2020. Invasive alien aquatic plants in South African freshwater ecosystems. In B. W. Wilgen, J. Measey, D. M. Richardson, J. R. Wilson, & A. Tsungai (Eds.), Zengeya. Biological invasions in South Africa. pp. 97–114. Springer.
Published full-length conference papers.
Moffat R., Hurley B. & Fourie G. 2023, 18-21 September. Towards biological control of macadamia felted coccid in South Africa. 9th International Macadamia Symposium, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Moffat R., Hurley B. & Fourie G. 2023, 11-14 July. Development time and reproduction rate of the invasive macadamia felted coccid, Acanthococcus ironsidei Williams (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae). 23rd Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Moffat R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2023, 7-12 May. Egeria densa (Hydrocharitaceae): The first submerged aquatic weed targeted for biological control in South Africa. 16th International Symposium on the Biological Control of Weeds. Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina.
Smith R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2021, 22 – 27 June. Finding middle ground – measuring aquatic macrophyte community response to Egeria densa biological control in South Africa. ASLO 2021 Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Virtual Online meeting.
Smith R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2021, 28 June – 1 July. Best of both worlds: The thermal physiology of Hydrellia egeriae, a biological control agent for Brazilian waterweed. 22nd Biennial Congress of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA). Hybrid: Virtual Online & Forever resort, Tshipise, Limpopo.
Smith R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2021, 5 – 7 May. The status of the submerged aquatic weed Egeria densa in South. National Symposium on Biological Invasions. Virtual Online meeting.
Smith R., Hussner A., & Coetzee J.A. 2018, 18-23 February. The biological control of Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) in South Africa and the effect of climate change on the success of the programme. 15th International Symposium of Aquatic Plants, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Smith R., Coetzee J.A. & Hill M.P. 2018, 25 – 30 November. Hydrellia Robineau-Desvoidy (Ephydridae) – the good, the bad and the unknown. 9th International Congress of Dipterology, Windhoek, Namibia.
My Publications
News and Views Articles (4)
Moffat R, Fourie G (2025) Towards biological control of macadamia felted coccid. SAMAC Journal.
Moffat R, Fourie G (2024) Natural enemies as candidate for biological control of macadamia felted coccid in macadamia orchards in South Africa. SAMAC Journal.
Moffat R, Fourie G (2024) Ecological niche modelling to predict areas that are suitable for macadamia felted coccid establishment in South Africa. SAMAC Journal.
Moffat R, Hurley BP, Fourie G (2023) Biology of the invasive macadamia felted coccid, Acanthococcus ironsidei Williams (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) and potential native enemies as biological control agents. SAMAC Journal.
My Publications
Moffat R, Fourie G. (2025) Towards biological control of macadamia felted coccid. SAMAC Journal
Moffat R, Fourie G. (2024) Natural enemies as candidate for biological control of macadamia felted coccid in macadamia orchards in South Africa. SAMAC Journal
Moffat R, Fourie G. (2024) Ecological niche modelling to predict areas that are suitable for macadamia felted coccid establishment in South Africa. SAMAC Journal
Moffat R, Hurley BP, Fourie G. (2023) Biology of the invasive macadamia felted coccid, Acanthococcus ironsidei Williams (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae) and potential native enemies as biological control agents. SAMAC Journal
