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.

As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.

It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of professors Giovanna Tropea Garzia and Anna De Angelis.

1. Mites

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 caused by main group of mites noxious in agriculture and related control methods.

Eriofids (Colomerus vitis, Eriophyes sheldoni, Calepitremus vitis, Aculops lycopersici, Aculops pelekassi),

Tetranichids (Panonychus citri, Panonychus ulmi, Eotetranychus carpini, Tetranychus urticae),

Tarsonemids (Polyphagotarsonemus latus),

Tenuipalpids (Brevipalpus spp.).

2. Nematodi

2.1 General aspects

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

2.2 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.).

3. Other animal pests

3.1 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.

4. Insects

4.1 General aspects

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

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

Ord. Collembola: Isotomurus palustris, Sminthurus viridis.

Ord. Blattodea: Blatta orientalis, Periplaneta americana, Blattella germanica, Supella longipalpa.

Ord. Isoptera: Kalotermes flavicollis, Reticulitermes lucifugus.

Ord. Orthoptera: Ensiferi Tettigoniidi (Decticus albifrons) e Grillotalpidi (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), Celiferi Acrididi (Calliptamus italicus, Dociostaurus maroccanus).

Ord. Thysanoptera: Terebranti Tripidi (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, Frankliniella occidentalis, Pezothrips kellianus);Tubuliferi Fleotripidi (Liothrips oleae).

Ord. Hemiptera:

Eterotteri Coreidi (Gonocerus acuteangulatus), Pentatomidi (Nezara viridula, Halyomorpha halys), Miridi (Calocoris trivialis; Nesidiocoris tenuis);

Omotteri Auchenorrinchi Flatidi (Metcalfa pruinosa), Cercopidi (Philaenus spumarius) e Cicadellidi (Empoasca decedens, Empoasca vitis);

Omotteri Sternorrinchi Psilloidei (Cacopsylla pyri), Aleirodoidei (Aleurothrixus floccosus, Bemisia tabaci, Trialeurodes vaporariorum), Afidoidei (Viteus vitifoliae, Eriosoma lanigerum, Toxoptera aurantii, Aphis spiraecola, Aphis fabae, Aphis gossypii, Dysaphis plantaginea, Brachycaudus persicae, Myzus persicae) e Coccoidei (Icerya purchasi, Planococcus citri, Saissetia oleae, Ceroplastes rusci, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Aspidiotus nerii, Diaspidiotus perniciosus, Aonidiella aurantii).

Ord. Lepidoptera: Gracillariidi (Leucoptera malifoliella, Phyllocnistis citrella), Iponomeutidi (Prays oleae, Prays citri), Gelechiidi (Phthorimaea operculella, Anarsia lineatella, Tuta absoluta), Tortricidi (Cydia pomonella, Cydia molesta, Lobesia botrana), Nottuidi (Agrotis ipsilon, Spodoptera littoralis), Taumetopeidi (Thaumetopoea pityocampa), Piralidi (Ephestia kühniella, Plodia interpunctella, Ostrinia nubilalis), Cossidi (Cossus cossus, Zeuzera pyrina).

Ord. Diptera: Nematoceri Culicidi e Cecidomiidi (Mayetiola destructor); Brachiceri Drosophilidae (Drosophila suzukii), Tefritidi (Bactrocera oleae, Ceratitis capitata, Rhagoletis cerasi) e Agromizidi (Liriomyza trifolii).

Ord. Coleoptera: Adefagi Carabidi (Zabrus tenebrioides); Polifagi Scarabeidi (Melolontha melolonta, Tropinota hirta), Elateridi (Agriotes litigiosus), Buprestidi (Capnodis tenebrionis), Crisomelidi (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Bruchidi (Bruchus spp., Acanthoscelides obtectus), Curculionidi (Otiorrhynchus cribricollis, Anthonomus spp., Sitophilus spp.) e Scolitidi (Phloeotribus scarabaeoides).

Ord. Hymenoptera: Sinfiti Tentredinidi (Hoplocampa brevis); Apocriti Formicidi (Linepitema humile) e Vespidi (Vespa crabro, Vespula germanica).

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.