ARTHROPOD PEST MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN CROPS

Obiettivi formativi

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  Aim of the course is to provide general knowledge on multitrophic interactions among plants, arthropod pests and their biocontrol agents in natural and agricultural ecosystems. Moreover, specific information on biology and rearing methods of natural enemies as well as on biocontrol field strategies are provided.

  Students will be able to recognize and exploit the main control agents of arthropod pests in Mediterranean crops; also, they will acquire theoretical and practical skills on field application of biological pest control strategies in Mediterranean crops

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The course aims at providing advanced knowledge on the ecological role and harmfulness of key insect pests of the major Mediterranean crops. The main sustainable integrated management strategies specific for each key insect pest of the Mediterranean environment are also provided. Students will be able to recognize the key insect pest and their damage, as well as to develop specific integrated and sustainable control strategies against them.

Modalità di svolgimento dell'insegnamento

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The didactic objectives will be achieved through classes conducted with digital tools and laboratory trainings. The laboratory activities focus on topics covered in theoretical lessons and on the analysis of case studies. In addition, technical field visits of multidisciplinary interest will be organized. The course is delivered by a 50% of classes and a 50% of laboratory and field training.

  If teaching is given in a mixed or on-line mode, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the current syllabus.

  Information for students with disabilities and / or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

  To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview to plan compensatory and / or relief measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP Disability Advisory Centre of our Department advisors Professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia e Anna De Angelis.

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The course will be delivered by a 50% of lectures and a 50% of laboratory group activities, bibliographic searches, scientific paper discussions and seminars.

  If teaching is given in a mixed or on-line mode, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the current syllabus.

  Information for students with disabilities and / or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

  To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, interested students can ask for a personal interview to plan compensatory and / or relief measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the CInAP Disability Advisory Centre of our Department advisors Professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia e Anna De Angelis.

Prerequisiti richiesti

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  Knowledge on General Entomology is needed while on Applied Entomology is important to achieve the learning objectives of the course.

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  General and applied Entomology basics are needed; whereas basic knowledge on agronomy and pesticide toxicology and applications is important to achieve the learning objectives of the course.

Frequenza lezioni

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  Attendance is not compulsory to hold exams, but it is strongly recommended to attend at least the 70% of the didactic activities.

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  Not compulsory, but highly recommended.

Contenuti del corso

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
  1. Concepts on the population dynamics of arthropod pests and their natural enemies in natural and agricultural ecosystems
  2. Identification and biology of the major groups of entomopathogenic agents and entomophagous arthropods
     1. Virus (NPV - nuclear polyhedrosis virus, GV- granulosis virus)
     2. Fungi (Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Poecilomyces lilacinus)
     3. Bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis)
     4. Nematodes (Steirnenema, Heterorhabdidis)
     5. Arthropods
        1. Mites (Phytoseidae: Phytoseiulus, Amblyseiulus, Typhlodromus, Phytoseius)
        2. Insects (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Pentatomidae, Anthocoridae, Miridae, Reduvidae, Nabidae; Neuroptera: Chrysopidae, Coniopterygidae; Diptera: Syrphidae, Cecidomyiidae, Tachinidae; Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Coccinellidae; Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Scelionidae, Chalcididae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Aphelinidae, Trichogrammatidae)
  3. Rearing techniques of entomophagous arthropods and their application in crop protection
  4. Microbiological control: application of viruses, bacteria, fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes
  5. Autocidal control: sterile insect technique (SIT), insect chemo-sterilizers
  6. Basic principles of agro-ecology: ecological infrastructures; habitat management for enhancing the functional biodiversity in agroecosystems
  7. Natural control and biological control strategies in the main agro-ecosystems: citrus orchard, vineyard, olive grove, fruit trees, open field and protected vegetables
• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  Concepts and applications of specific integrated pest management strategies, with focus on the control of key arthropod pests of the main Mediterranean agro-ecosystems:

  (1) Citrus (Pezothrips kellyanus, Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aphis spiraecola, Toxoptera aurantii, A. gossypii, Planococcus citri, Aonidiella aurantii, Phyllocnistis citrella, Ceratitis capitata);

  (2) Olive (Saissetia oleae, Prays oleae, Zeuzera pyrina, Bactrocera oleae);

  (3) Grape (Frankliniella occidentalis; Leafhoppers; Planococcus ficus; Lobesia botrana);

  (4) Pome and stone fruits (Disaphys plantaginea, Cacopsylla pyri, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Archips rosanus, Cydia pomonella, Yponomeuta malinellus, Cossus cossus, Zeuzera pyrina, Stone fruit aphids, Frankliniella occidentalis, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Cydia molesta,Anarsia lineatella, Capnodis tenebrionis, Rhagoletis cerasi, Ceratitis capitata, Drosophila suzukii);

  (5) Protected vegetables (Aphids, Frankliniella occidentalis; Trialeurodes vaporariorium; Bemisia tabaci; Spodoptera littoralis; Tuta absoluta);

  (6) Open field vegetables and arable crops (Aphids, Gortyna xanthenes, Depressaria erinaceella, Spodoptera littoralis, Cossus cossus, Agriotes lineatus, Apion pisi, Bruchus spp., Acanthoscelides obtectus, Phthorimaea operculella, Ostrinia nubilalis).

  Moreover, (7) a part of the course will be focused on exotic invasive insect pests at high risk of introduction, and on (8) pesticide (eco)toxicology.

Testi di riferimento

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  1. BELLOWS T.S. & FISHER T.W. (Ed.), 1999. Handbook of biological control: principles and applications of biological control. Academic Press (978-0-12-257305-7)

  2. COPPING L.G. (Ed.) 2011. The manual of biocontrol agents: a world compendium. 4th Edition. BCPC Publ. (British Crop Production Council (978-1-901396-17-1)

  3. FLINT M.L. & DREISTADT S.H., 1998. Natural enemies handbook: the illustrated guide to biological pest control. Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat. Res. Publ.3386, University of California Press (978-1-879906-41-9)

  4. HELYER N., BROWN K., CATTLIN N.D., 2014. Biological control in plant protection: a colour handbook, Second Edition CRC Press (978-1-84076-117-7)

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  1. Alford D V (2013) Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook. CRC Press
  2. Bostanian NJ, Vincent C, Isaacs R (2012) Arthropod Management in Vineyards: Pests, Approaches, and Future Directions. Springer Science & Business Media.
  3. Ciancio A, Mukerji KG (2010) Integrated management of arthropod pests and insect borne diseases. Springer Science & Business Media.
  4. Hulme PE (2009) Handbook of alien species in Europe (Vol. 569). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
  5. Kogan M, Jepson PC (2007) Perspectives in ecological theory and integrated pest management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  6. Radcliffe EB, Hutchison WD, Cancelado RE (2009) Integrated pest management: concepts, tactics, strategies and case studies. Cambridge University Press.

Programmazione del corso

Verifica dell'apprendimento

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The learnig assessment is arranged in two parts: a test during the class period and another one after the class end. As regards the first one, a single student or a small group of students will give a presentation in English on a topic previously selected in agreement with the professor. The final test consists of an individual oral interview where the specific knowledge and skills gained by students will be evaluated. For each of the two tests, the evaluation will be out of thirty and will account of relevance, quality of content and exposition. In addition, students must demonstrate the ability to correlate different topics of the course.The final score of the course will result from the average scores of the two tests.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The exam is composed by two main steps: an exam during the class period and another after the class end. The first is represented by a talk given in English, by a single student or by a small group of students, on a selected topic previously agreed with the professor. The final exam is an individual oral interview in which the student will discuss (i) about one of the scientific paper chosen by the student among those discussed during classes, (ii) about the integrated insect pest control strategies in an agroecosystem selected by the student, and then (iii) reply to two specific questions asked by the professor.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

  For each evaluation step, the student will be evaluated according to five criteria:
  - relevance of the answers according to the questions asked
  - quality of answer content
  - ability to link with other topics of the study program
  - ability to report examples
  - technical language quality and overall expressive capacity

  The final score, that will be out of thirty, of the course will result from the medium scores of the two tests.

Esempi di domande e/o esercizi frequenti

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS
  • Describe the main factors affecting the population dynamics of phytophagous arthropods in agro-ecosystems
  • Describe the main morfological and biological traits of Coccinellidae
  • Describe the morphological, biological and technical features of the imenopteran parasitoid Aphytis melinus and mirid predator Nesidiocoris tenuis
  • Describe the main rearing methods of the main entomophages used in crop protection
  • Describe the main available microbiological control agents and applications in Mediterranean agrosystems
  • Describe examples of habitat management applications
  • Describe organic control strategies in citrus and vineyards
• INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  (i) Select and describe the state of the art, the aim, the main methods and results, as well as the conclusions of one of the scientific papers discussed during classes.
  (ii) Select and describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of one of the agro-ecosystems discussed during classes.
  (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of citrus.
  (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key leafminer pests
  (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of fruit crops.
  (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key scale insect pests.
  (iiia) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against the key pests of protected vegetable crops.
  (iiib) Describe the biology, ecology and integrated pest control strategies implemented against key aphid pests.