Projects
Climatic modelling of African fruit fly pests
Predictive distribution models are being developed for the Mediterranean Fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and the Natal Fruit fly (Ceratitis rosa). Using their occurrence in their original area of distribution, a set of environmental parameters is being quantified. By looking for areas with similar parameters in areas where the flies are not found currently, we try to predict regions that could potentially be suitable for invasion and establishment of these pests. We plan to develop a similar model for the invasive fruit fly (Bactrocera invadens).
Head of Project: Dr Mark Robinson (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Collaborators: Dr Marc De Meyer; Prof. Townsend Peterson (University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA), Dr Mervyn Mansell (USDA, Pretoria, South Africa)
