Rickie van Staden

I am an Entomologist with a passion for science and insects. I am working as a Senior Laboratory Specialist on insecticide resistance of Potato tuber moth in South Africa at the North-West University. I have experience in rearing insect species (Potato tuber moth, Fall armyworm, Tomato leaf miner, Whiteflies, Cutworms and False armyworm). I also have experience in insecticide resistance testing methods.

I am a driven, goal-orientated and hardworking individual, who has a broad-based knowledge in the study fields; crop protection, entomology, zoology, tourism (including business management and marketing) and botany. I believe it is important to gain a broad knowledge and develop critical thinking skills to be successful and solve problems to enhance my future career. My main fields of interest are crop protection, crop production research and entomology.

TRAINED IN

− Integrated Pest Management

− Insect rearing:

▪ Potato tuber moth ▪ Fall armyworm

▪ Tomato leaf miner ▪ Whiteflies

▪ Cutworms

▪ False armyworm

− Research skills:

▪ Data collection

▪ Observation

▪ Critical thinking

− Insecticide knowledge

− Insecticide resistance trials:

▪ IRAC Susceptibility Test Methods (LC50, LC80 and LC90)

MSc in Environmental Sciences in Integrated Pest Management