Dr Kevin Malod
Postdoctoral researcher
Host: Prof. John Terblanche
My research focuses on factors that influence life-history traits of pest tephritid flies in order to generate new knowledge and improve biological control methods. To understand better the rapid expansion of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and inform pest management procedures.
I am currently investigating how environmental factors, thermal history and population densities affect dispersal ability. To do so, I am using field (release-recapture of sterile individuals in an agricultural environment) and laboratory (flight mill assays) approaches.