RESEARCH INTERESTS
My current position deals with diagnostics of scale insects and whiteflies. I am interested in exploring cryptic species complexes and applying available approaches to delimit individual species within the complex where there are insufficient species-specific morphological characters to separate taxa. I am also interested in exploring the invasion routes and the factors responsible for the spread in taxa that have invaded globally. In addition, I am broadly interested in how species are interacting and how interactions between them influence their biology, ecology, and genomes. The understanding of the interactions of insects with their host plants, natural enemies and their microbiota can provide us with better ecological pest management strategies. Particularly, when a new species invades and joins an already established community, its arrival disturbs the community structure. I am fascinated in exploring the close relationships within the community especially after the arrival of an invasive species.
Click here to see more
My current position deals with diagnostics of scale insects and whiteflies. I am interested in exploring cryptic species complexes and applying available approaches to delimit individual species within the complex where there are insufficient species-specific morphological characters to separate taxa. I am also interested in exploring the invasion routes and the factors responsible for the spread in taxa that have invaded globally. In addition, I am broadly interested in how species are interacting and how interactions between them influence their biology, ecology, and genomes. The understanding of the interactions of insects with their host plants, natural enemies and their microbiota can provide us with better ecological pest management strategies. Particularly, when a new species invades and joins an already established community, its arrival disturbs the community structure. I am fascinated in exploring the close relationships within the community especially after the arrival of an invasive species.
Click here to see more
EDUCATION
2013 University of Pretoria, South Africa
Ph.D., Insect Genetics [Chair] Prof. Jaco M Greeff
2009 South China Agricultural University, China
M.S., Insect Ecology [Chair] Prof. Qiu Bao-Li
2006 Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan
B.S., Entomology
EXPERIENCE
2017-Present : Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2014-2017 : Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida
2013 University of Pretoria, South Africa
Ph.D., Insect Genetics [Chair] Prof. Jaco M Greeff
2009 South China Agricultural University, China
M.S., Insect Ecology [Chair] Prof. Qiu Bao-Li
2006 Bahauddin Zakariya University, Pakistan
B.S., Entomology
EXPERIENCE
2017-Present : Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2014-2017 : Postdoctoral Associate, University of Florida