From 1-4 August, FABI researchers took part the in 54^th Annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology hosted virtually from Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa. The meeting was divided into six plenary sessions, each addressing a different aspect of microbial biological control. Along with the plenary sessions, each day also included several concurrent Q&A sessions on the divisions of Fungi, Bacteria, Nematodes, and Microsporidia.

Invertebrate pathology is a rapidly growing area of research at FABI, with a number of projects investigating the use of insect pathogens for management of pests. This was reflected by various presentations by FABI students and postdocs at the congress.

Presentations by FABIans:

Dr Katrin Fitza - Characterising Deladenus (Rhabditida, Nematoda) species associated with Siricidae in North America from preserved specimens

Dr Agil Katumanyane - Entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in South Africa

Dr Wilma Nel - Entomopathogens tested for their efficacy against the invasive polyphagous shot hole borer, Euwallacea fornicatus

Marizanne Jones - Diversity of fungal entomopathogens of Gonipterus sp. 2 in South African Eucalyptus plantations

Firehiwot Eshetu - Variation in the reproduction of the biological control nematode Deladenus siricidicola on Amylostereum areolatum strains

Sumari Venter - The genetics of the interactions between the invasive forest pest, Sirex noctilio and its biocontrol agent, Deladenus siricidicola

Innocent Rakubu - Efficacy, host-finding ability, and application of entomopathogenic nematodes on pupae of Gonipterus sp. 2