Carmelo Cavallaro

Research Fellow
Scientific Tutor: Antonio Biondi

05/2024 – 05/2025: Research Fellowship, AGR/11, "General and Applied Entomology" Di3A (University of Catania). "Validation and demonstration of innovative integrated pest management programs for tomato pests in protected cultivation". Project "ADOPT IPM". Research Program "HORIZON Europe". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

05/2023 – 05/2024: Research Fellowship, Di3A (University of Catania). "Rationalization of the use of natural antagonists and monitoring and control systems for pests of horticultural and floricultural plants". Research Program: "Innovations in Sustainable Integrated Vegetable and Floricultural Production" - INNORTIFLORIS". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Gaetano Siscaro

09/2022 - 01/2023: Research Fellowship, Di3A (University of Catania). "Optimization of integrated pest control strategies using alternative plants". Research Program: "Innovations in Integrated Pest Management against Recently Introduced Pests and Diseases on Vegetable Crops" - INTEMAR. Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

04/2022 - 09/2022: External Collaboration, Di3A (University of Catania). "Statistical analysis, synthesis, visualization, and scientific interpretation of data from behavioral bioassays of insects, to study the influence of water stress on plant-phytophagous-entomophagous interactions". Research Program "PON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 2014 – 2020, Action II – Specific Objective 1b – "Improvement of Mediterranean Agri-food Productions under Water Scarcity Conditions" - "WATER4AGRIFOOD". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Giuseppe Massimino Cocuzza

12/2021 - 02/2022: External Collaboration, Di3A (University of Catania). "Preparation of two technical guides on biological and integrated control of the main pests of solanaceous and cucurbitaceous crops in the Mediterranean environment". Research Program: "Integrated Control of Major Insect Pests and Recently Introduced Diseases on Vegetable Crops" - "INTEMAR". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

03/2021 – 08/2021: Research Fellowship, Di3A (University of Catania). "Innovations for sustainable control of the two main entomological adversities of Etna cherries". Research Program "Sustainable Innovations for the Improvement of PDO "Etna Cherry"" - DOPCILIETNA". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Alberto Continella

07/2020 - 11/2020: Research Fellowship, Di3A (University of Catania). "Development of an experimental protocol for studying olfactory reactions in Drosophila suzukii". Research Program "Sublethal effects of insecticides microdoses on the olfaction capacity of Drosophila suzukii". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

12/2019 - 03/2020: Research Fellowship, Di3A (University of Catania). "Refinement of Xylosandrus compactus rearing protocol and laboratory assays of insecticidal molecules". Research Program "Phytosanitary Defense against Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff)". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Giovana Tropea Garzia

09/2017 - 09/2018: Research Collaborator, (University of Catania) Di3A "Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on Trichopria drosophilae, a major natural enemy of the Spotted Wing Drosophila". Research Program "ENTOBIONANO". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

12/2017 - 02/2018: Research Collaborator, Di3A (University of Catania). "Olfactometer Evaluation of Neurotoxic Effects on Target and NonTarget Insects". Research Program "Target and non-target entomotoxicity of bioinsecticide nanoformulations". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

11/2016 - 02/2017: Research Collaborator, Di3A (University of Catania). "Laboratory Insect Colonies and Toxicological Bioassays on Target and Non-Target Insects". Research Program "Target and nontarget entomotoxicity of bioinsetticide nanoformulations". Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Antonio Biondi

2023: Qualification for the activity of phytosanitary consultant. (Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries).

2020: Professional Qualification - Agronomist and Forester Doctor. (University of Catania).

2016: Master's Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies - Class n. LM -69 of the Master's Degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies D.M.16.03.2007. University of Catania Graduated with honors (110/110 and Distinction). Experimental Thesis: "Biological investigations on hymenopteran parasitoids of Drosophila and implications for the biological control of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura)".

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Articles published 

  • Lisi F., Cavallaro C., Fellin L., Gugliuzzo A., Desneux N., Anfora G., Rossi Stacconi M.V., Biondi A. (2024). Non target effects of neurotoxic insecticides on Ganaspis brasiliensis, a classical biological control agent of the spotted wing Drosophila.(2024) Article in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience DOI:10.1186/s43170-024-00251-0
  • Fabrizio Lisi, Ramzi Mansour, Carmelo Cavallaro, Tugcan Alinc, Emanuele Porcu, Michele Ricupero, Lucia Zappalà, Nicolas Desneuxd, Antonio Biondi. (2023).  Sublethal effects of nine insecticides on Drosophila suzukii and its major pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae. Article in Pest Management Science  DOI: 10.1002/ps.7702
  • F. Lisi, A. Biondi, C. Cavallaro, L. Zappalà, G. Campo, P.F. Roversi, G. Sabbatini Peverier, L. Giovannini, L. Tavella, F. Tortorici, S. Bardella, C. Carli, G. Bosio, N. Mori, L. Tonina, G. Zanini, S. Caruso, G. Vaccari, A. Masetti, B. Bittau, M. Bariselli, S. Schmidt ,M. Falagiarda, L. Bertignono, R. Bonfanti, M. Giorgini, E. Guerrieri, F.G. Tropiano, V. Verrastro, N. Baser, A. Ibn Amor, S. Endrizzi, L. Tessari, S. Puppato, C. Ioriatti, A. Grassi, G. Anfora, L. Fellin and M.V. Rossi Stacconi. (2022). Current status of Drosophila suzukii classical biological control in Italy.  Article in Acta Horticulturae  DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1354.25
  • Nicholas R. Larson, Jaime Strickland, Vonnie D. Shields, Antonio Biondi,Lucia Zappalà, Carmelo Cavallaro, Stefano Colazza, LucíaAdriana EscuderoColomar,Felix Briem, Heidrun Vogt, François Debias, Patricia Gibert, Emmanuel Desouhant & Aijun Zhang. (2021). Detection and monitoringof Drosophila suzukii in raspberryand cherry orchards with volatileorganic compounds in the USAand Europe. Article in Scientific Reports  DOI: 10.1038/s4159802185884

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In press, under review and submitted articles

  • Gugliuzzo A., Cavallaro C., Strano C.P., Alinç T., Passos L.C., Ricupero M., Lisi F., Cocuzza G.E.M., Colazza S., Russo A., Siscaro G., Tropea Garzia G., Zappalà L., Biondi A. (2024). Seasonal flight activity of Drosophila suzukii and first data on its parasitoids on Mount Etna (Italy). Under review.

Conference Proceedings

  • Mariangela Milordo, Carmelo Cavallaro, Giuseppe Eros Massimino Cocuzza, Lucia Zappalà, Antonio Biondi, Michele Ricupero.Multitrophic interactions induced by water stress on tomato and wheat.(Poster)  XXVII Italian National Congress of Entomology (CNIE) 1216 June 2023, Palermo, Italy.
  • Aurelio Scavo, Sara Lombardo, Antonio Biondi, Gaetano Pandino, Giovanna Tropea Garzia, Salvatore Alfio Salicola, Carmelo Cavallaro, Antonio Gugliuzzo, Claudia Formenti, Fabrizio Lisi, Gaetano Roberto Pesce, Giovanni Mauromicale. Early potato – pea intercropping: first evidence on productive traits and insect control.(Poster) 52nd National Conference of the Italian Society of Agronomy, 25-27 September 2023, Portici, Italy.
  • Simona Tortorici , Carmelo Cavallaro, Gaetano Siscaro, Francesco Tortorici, Pio Federico Roversi, Roberto Rizzo. (Presentazione orale). New insights into the oophagous parasitoids of Gonocerus acuteangulatus in Sicilian hazelnut orchards. XXVII Italian National Congress of Entomology (CNIE) 12 -16 June 2023, Palermo, Italy.
  • Mr. Paolo La Spada, Mr. Fabrizio Lisi , Mr. Carmelo Cavallaro, Assoc. Prof. Antonio Biondi, Assoc. Prof. Alberto Continella. Manipulating fruit susceptibility for the sustainable control of Drosophila suzukii in organic grapevine.(Poster)  III International Organic Fruit Symposium and I International Organic Vegetable Symposium. (2021)
  • Anfora Gianfranco, Biondi Antonio, Cavallaro Carmelo, P Strano Cinzia, Lisi Fabrizio, Zappalà Lucia, Scala Marica, Ricupero Michele and Desneux Nicolas. (Presentazione orale). Multifaceted sublethal effects of insecticide microdoses on the orientation of the spotted wing Drosophila. XXVI Congresso Nazionale Italiano di Entomologia (CNIE Torino 2021).
  • Fabrizio Lisi, Antonio Biondi, Carmelo Cavallaro, Lucia Zappalà, Giuseppino Campo, Pio Federico Roversi,Giuseppino Sabbatini Peverieri, Lucrezia Giovannini, Luciana Tavella, Francesco Tortorici, Simone Bardella Cristiano Carli, Giovanni Bosio,Nicola Mori, Lorenzo Tonina, Giovanni Zanini, Stefano Caruso, Giacomo Vaccari, Antonio Masetti, Barbara Bittau, Massimo Bariselli, Silvia Schmidt, Martina Falagiarda, Luca Bertignono, Rita Bonfanti, Massimo Giorgini, Emilio Guerrieri, Flavia Grazia Tropiano, Vincenzo Verrastro, Nuray Baser, Abir Ibn Amor, Stefano Endrizzi, Lorenza Tessari, Simone Puppato, Claudio Ioriatti Alberto Grassi, Gianfranco Anfora, Lorenzo Fellin, Marco Valerio Rossi Stacconi. (Presentazione orale). Current status of the classical biological control of Drosophila suzukii in Italy. III International Organic Fruit Symposium and I International Organic Vegetable Symposium (2021).
  • Mansour Ramzi , Cavallaro Carmelo , Alinc Tugcan, Simona Tortorici , Nicolas Desneux , Agatino Russo , Gaetano Siscaro , Lucia Zappalà , Antonio Biondi.Sublethal effects of insecticides on Trichopria drosophilae, a pupal parasitoid of the invasive spotted wing drosophila. (Poster) XI European Congress of Entomology, 26 July 2018, Naples (Italy).
  • Antonio Gugliuzzo, Carmelo Cavallaro, Tugcan Alinc, Edoardo Finocchiaro , Giovanna Tropea Garzia , Gaetano Siscaro , Lucia Zappalà, Antonio Biondi. Population dynamics of Drosophila suzukii and first data on its parasitoids on Mount Etna (Italy) .(Poster) XI Congresso europeo di entomologia XI European Congress of Entomology, 26 July 2018, Naples (Italy).
  • Biondi Antonio , Mansour Ramzi, Cavallaro Carmelo, Alinc Tugcan, Desneux Nicolas, Zappalà Lucia. Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on Trichopria drosophilae, a major natural enemy of the spotted wing drosophila.   The 5th International Etomophagus Insects Conference (IEC5 Kyoto, Japan 2017).