1) Knowledge and understanding: The course aims to provide the student with basic knowledge on morphology, biology and physiology of insects and other harmful animal organisms, with specific reference to the systematic groups of pre-eminent applied interest, for which the student will also have to develop basic skills in the assessment of the harmfulness to cultivated plants and their products and in the application of environmentally friendly means of control of their infestations.

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Through the acquisition of knowledge about the biology of insects and parasites and their interactions with plants and their products, students will acquire the ability to be able to recognize the damage caused by them to plants and their products, as well as to plan possible actions to control the populations of harmful organisms.

3) Judgement skills: With the aid of lectures, laboratory exercises, farm visits and seminars, students will acquire autonomy in the recognition and analysis of insect infestations in the agricultural field.

4) Communication skills: The students will develop a correct technical-scientific terminology in the field of entomology and applied parasitology as well as the ability to work and communicate in a group, also by simulating interactions in the working environment.

5) Learning skills: The course will contribute to the development of skills and autonomy of analysis useful for the development of skills in the sustainable protection of cultivated plants and their products.

The course will consist of 21 hours of lectures and 42 hours of practical exercises, conducted in the laboratory, in the classroom, and, where possible, through technical field visits.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus

The knowledge on zoological systematics and of the morphology, physiology, and biology of insects is important.

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.

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.).

2. Nematods

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 caused by main group of mites 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. Altri parassiti animali

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

Molluschi Gasteropoda: Helicidae, Limacidae.

Uccelli: Sturnidae, Ploceidae, Corvidae, Columbide.

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

Ord. Collembola: Isotomurus palustris, Sminthurus viridis.

Ord. Blattodea: Blattellidae, Blattidae

Ord. Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Heterotermitoidea

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), 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, Myzus persicae) e Coccoidei (Icerya purchasi, Planococcus citri, Saissetia oleae, Ceroplastes rusci,  Aspidiotus nerii, 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), Piralidi (Ephestia kühniella, Plodia interpunctella), 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, Curculionidi (Otiorrhynchus cribricollis, Anthonomus spp., Sitophilus spp.) e Scolitidi (Phloeotribus scarabaeoides).

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

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

An optional mid-term assessment will take place roughly halfway through the course—specifically, during the scheduled teaching break. This assessment will consist of an oral exam covering Applied Agricultural Parasitology (Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the syllabus).

Students who pass the mid-term assessment (achieving a minimum score of 18/30) will be permitted to take the final oral exam covering only the Applied Agricultural Entomology section (Part 4 of the syllabus).

For both assessments, evaluation will be based on five criteria:

§  relevance of answers to the questions asked

§  quality of content

§  ability to make connections with other topics in the syllabus

§  ability to provide examples

§  command of technical terminology and overall expressive ability.

The marks attributed will follow the following scheme:
Unsuitable
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies.
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.
Use of references: Completely inappropriate.
18-20
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills.
Use of references: As appropriate.
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Correct analysis and synthesis, with logical and coherent argumentation skills.
Use of references: Use of standard references.
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good.
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Good, with arguments expressed consistently.
Use of references: Use of standard references.
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: More than good.
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.
Use of references: In-depth.
30-30L
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent.
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Remarkable.
Use of references: Important insights.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o DSA) through the referring professor within the department, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

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

Sample questions

General information on Eriophyid mites and details on the main species of agricultural importance.

General information on Tetranychid mites and details on the main species of agricultural importance.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and control of Tetranychus urticae.

Details on the main species of Anguinid nematodes.

Details on the main species of gall-forming Heteroderid nematodes of agricultural importance.

Details on the main species of Meloidogyne nematodes.

Details on the main species of gastropod mollusks of agricultural importance.

Control methods for gastropod mollusks in agriculture.

Birds and agriculture: general information, damage, economic importance, main species, and control methods.

Mice and rats in agriculture: damage, economic importance, and control methods.

General information on Cricetid rodents and details on the main species of agricultural importance.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and an overview of control methods for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and an overview of control methods for Dociostaurus maroccanus.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and an overview of control methods for Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and an overview of control methods for Frankliniella occidentalis.

Morphology, bio-ecology, epidemiology, damage, and an overview of control methods for Pezothrips kellianus.

Details on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by the main insects belonging to the Blattidae family. Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Thripidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Pentatomidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Cicadellidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Aleyrodoidea superfamily (whiteflies)

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Aphidoidea superfamily (aphids)

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Coccoidea superfamily (scale insects)

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Yponomeutidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Gelechiidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Tortricidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Noctuidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Cossidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Tephritidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Bruchidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Curculionidae family

Information on the morphology, biology, and damage caused by key insects belonging to the Vespidae family

Describe key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Nezara viridula

Describe key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Calocoris trivialis

Describe key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Cacopsylla pyri

Describe key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Bemisia tabaci

Describe the key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Toxoptera aurantii

Describe the key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Aphis gossypii

Describe the key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Planococcus citri

Describe the key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Saissetia oleae

Describe the key information regarding the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Aonidiella aurantii

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Phyllocnistis citrella

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Prays oleae

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Tuta absoluta

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Cydia pomonella

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Spodoptera littoralis

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Zeuzera pyrina

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Liriomyza trifolii

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Drosophila suzukii

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Bactrocera oleae

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Ceratitis capitata

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Agriotes litigiosus

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Capnodis tenebrionis

Describe the key characteristics of the morphology, biology, damage, and control of Leptinotarsa decemlineata