ARTHROPOD PEST MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN CROPS

Learning Objectives

• 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.

Course Structure

• BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ARTHROPOD PESTS

  The didactic objectives will be achieved through lectures conducted with digital didactic 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.

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

• 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, such as: (1) Citrus; (2) Olive; (3) Grape; (4) Pome and stone fruits; (5) Protected vegetables; (6) Open field vegetables and arable crops. 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.

Detailed Course Content

• 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

  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.

Textbook Information

• 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

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