Applied Agricultural Entomology and Parasitology

The course aims at providing the students with basic knowledge on the morphology, biology and physiology of insects and other animals (e.g. mites and nematodes) harmful to cultivated crops. The student will develop the ability to evaluate the potential damage of these organisms on crop plants and their products, as well as basic knowledge on the main sustainable control tools.

The course will be delivered by a 35 hours of lectures and 14 hours of class, laboratory group activities, bibliographic searches, seminars and, if feasible, technical field visits.

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.

1. Insects

1.1 General aspects

Morphology and anatomy; Reproduction and development; Systematics; Relations with plants; Damage and economic importance; Sampling methods; Control.

1.2 Biology, population dynamics and damage by maing group of insects noxious in agriculture and related control methods.

Ord. Collembola: Arthropleona and Symphypleona.

Ord. Blattodea: Blattellidae and Blattidae.

Ord. Isoptera: Kalotermitidae

Ord. Orthoptera: Ensifera Tettigoniidae and Grillotalpidae. Caelifera: Acrididae.

Ord. Thysanoptera: Terebrantia and Tubulifera.

Ord. Hemiptera: Eteroptera Coreidae, Pentatomidae, Miridae. Omoptera Auchenorrincha: Flatidae, Cercopidae e Cicadellidae. Omoptera Sternorrincha: Psilloidea, Aleirodoidea, Afidoidea and Coccoidea.

Ord. Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae, Iponomeutidae, Gelechiidae, Tortricidae, Nottuidae, Taumetopeidae, Piralidae and Cossidae.

Ord. Diptera: Nematocera: Culicidae e Cecidomiidae. Brachicera: Drosophilidae, Tefritidae and Agromizidae.

Ord. Coleoptera: Adefaga: Carabidae. Polifaga Scarabeidae, Elateridae, Buprestidae, Crisomelidae, Bruchidae, Curculionidae and Scolitidae.

Ord. Hymenoptera: Symphyta: Tenthredinidae. Apocrita Formicidae, Vespidae and Apidae.

2. Mites

2.1 General aspects

Morphology and anatomy; Reproduction and development; Systematics; Relations with plants; Damage and economic importance; Sampling methods; Control.

1.2 Biology, population dynamics and damage caused by main group of mites noxious in agriculture and related control methods.

Sottord. Actinedida: Eriofidi (Colomerus vitis, Eriophyes sheldoni, Calepitremus vitis, Aculops lycopersici, Aculops pelekassi), Tetranichidi (Panonychus citri, Panonychus ulmi, Eotetranychus carpini, Tetranychus urticae), Tarsonemidi (Polyphagotarsonemus latus), Tenuipalpidi (Brevipalpus spp.).

3. Nematodes

3.1 General aspects

Morphology and anatomy; Reproduction and development; Systematics; Relations with plants; Damage and economic importance; Sampling methods; Control.

3.2 Biology, population dynamics and damage by maing group of nematodes noxious in agriculture and related control methods.

Ord. Tylenchida: Anguinidae (Ditylenchus dipsaci, Anguina tritici), Pratylenchidae (Pratylenchus spp.), Heteroderidae (Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida, Heterodera schachtii, Heterodera carotae, Meloidogyne spp.), Tylenchulidae (Tylenchulus semipenetrans).

Ord. Dorylaimida: Longidoridae (Xiphinema spp.), Trichodoridae (Trichodorus spp.).

4. Other animal pests

4.1 General aspects

Mollusca Gasteropoda, Birds, Rodents: Systematics and morphology; Main biological aspects; Damage and economic importance; Control.

4.2 Biology, epidemiology and damage by maing group of gasteropoda, birds and rodents noxious in agriculture and related control methods.

Mollusca Gasteropoda: Helicidae, Limacidae.

Birds: Sturnidae, Ploceidae, Corvidae, Columbidae.

Rodents: Cricetidae, Muridae.

1. BACCETTI B., BARBAGALLO S., SÜSS L. & TREMBLAY E., 2000. Manuale di Zoologia Agraria. Delfino Editore, Roma.

2. TREMBLAY E., 1985-2000. Entomologia applicata, voll. 1-7. Liguori Editore, Napoli.

3. MASUTTI L., ZANGHERI S., 2001, Entomologia Generale e Applicata, Cedam, Padova.

4. ALFORD D V (2013) Pests of Fruit Crops: A Colour Handbook. CRC Press

All the slides used during lectures, as well as any additional document will be provided by the teacher through the "Studium" web system.