Profile

Ms Caitlin Gevers

PhD student
Department
Zoology and Entomology
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Member of:

My Supervisor/s


Primary Supervisor
Brett Hurley
Co Supervisor
Dr. Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder
Bernard Slippers
Gudrun Dittrich-Schroder

I am currently completing my PhD (Entomology) at FABI and the department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of Pretoria.

I completed a BSc (Entomology) at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. Thereafter I completed my MSc at FABI and the department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria. My research focused on the distribution, diversity and prevalence of two genetically distinct lineages of the minute gall wasp and pest on Eucalyptus, Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). This wasp induces galls on a variety of Eucalyptus species and has become a serious economic threat to Eucalyptus plantations worldwide. The distribution and prevalence of two biological control agents and parasitoids of L. invasa (Selitrichodes neseri (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Ophelimus maskelli(Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)). Furthermore, two Megastigmus species (M. zebrinus and M. pretorianensis) (Hymenoptera: Toryimidae). The roles these wasps adopt with each other were researched through dissections and the use of species specific primers/restriction enzymes.

Current research

My PhD will expand on my MSc. This includes a national monitoring scheme of over 5 years worth of data. The establishment of isolated cultures of two cryptic species belonging to the genus Leptocybe. The investigation of potential hybridization between these two cryptic species. Furthermore, the exploration into host specify of the gall community that surrounds these gall forming wasps.

My Galeries

News

FABI well represented at ESSA

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.

SAIF recognizes FABI students

Two FABI PhD candidates were recognized for research excellence by the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF).

Many hands make light work at the TPCP tree planting

Some 50 students linked to the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) in FABI replanted more than 1700 Eucalyptus and 200 pine seedlings on the morning of 5 March.

Last tree planting event for 2020

Forty FABIans from the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and Grain Research programme (GRP) got their hands dirty replanting 200 pine and 1500 Eucalyptus seedlings into potting bags at the last tree planting event for 2020 on 27 November. This year’s tree planting also included students from the GRP who harvested maize leaves.

TPCP team members visit the southern Cape

When you think of the southern Cape, you think of the Tsitsikamma: long beaches and the rolling mountains that follow the N2 freeway. In addition to collecting these important logs team members, Prof.

FABI extension trip covers two countries

February's extension trip took Caitlin Gevers, Darryl Herron, Daniella Kramer and Jenna-Lee Price to some exotic locations around Mkhondo in Mpumalanga, the wild lands of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Greytown and Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal.

Autumn graduation honours for 68 FABIans at the University of Pretoria’s first virtual graduation ceremony

FABI celebrates with the 68 graduates affiliated with the Institute whose degrees were conferred at the University of Pretoria’s first virtual graduation ceremony on 6 April.

FABI hosts the Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa

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.

Researchers from 27 countries meet to discuss biological control of forest insect pests

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.

FABI's Writing Club going strong

It goes without saying that publishing scientific papers is crucial for a successful science career. Another important part of the writing and publishing process is reviewing and editing. FABI PhD candidate, Katrin Fitza, started a “Writing Club” in 2016 to support this process, and to learn about reviewing and editing at the same time.

My Book Chapters

Export to RIS

Book Chapters
Hurley BP, Dittrich-Schröder G, Gevers C. 2023. Gall Formers. In: Forest Entomology and Pathology Vol.1. Allison JD, Paine TD, Slippers B, Wingfield MJ. (eds). Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp 457-494.

My Journal Articles