Establishing a barcoding database of local pests of deciduous fruit

PROJECT TITLE:    Establishing a barcoding database of local pests of deciduous fruit

Project leader:       Pia Addison (Stellenbosch University)

Contact:                     pia@sun.ac.za

Duration:                   1 October 2022 – 30 September 2024

Problem identification and project objectives:

South Africa is experiencing a shortage of taxonomists for various insect groups, which means in future there will be no experts available for morphological insect identifications, as there appear to be very few people being trained to take over. Accurate insect identifications have a huge impact on market access for South African fruit since incorrect identifications lead to loss of access and financial implications for growers. Many insect pests, such as False codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, and banded fruit weevil, Phlyctinus callosus, are endemic to South Africa. Therefore, the occurrence of these, and other insects, can cause major phytosanitary issues. Inaccurate identifications also have major implications for management, as many alternative control strategies, such as biological control, are species-specific. Insect groups that are not studied as intensively, such as leafhoppers, thrips and mites, often are problematic in terms of their taxonomic status. This project aims to alleviate these problems by supplementing existing sequences of well-known pests, with those for which no sequences are available in South Africa. This will allow for easier identifications by people not trained as Entomologists or Acarologists. It is critical, however, to establish a good morphological base on which to make these sequences available.