Giuseppe Eros Massimino Cocuzza

Academic Position

(Updated to 28.5.2026)

• Rank: Associate Professor (Professore di II fascia)

• Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD): 05/A – General and Applied Entomology

• Affiliation: University of Catania – Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A)

Scientific and Professional Background

Education and Fellowships

• Master's Degree (Laurea) in Agricultural Sciences (Crop Protection curriculum): Obtained from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Catania, on November 4, 1993. Thesis title: "Impiego sperimentale di Orius laevigatus (Fieber) contro Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) su peperone in serra fredda" (Experimental use of Orius laevigatus against Frankliniella occidentalis on sweet pepper in unheated greenhouses).

• Research Assistant: Voluntary and subsequently contract collaborator at the Institute of Agricultural Entomology, University of Catania, focusing on research activities related to Orius laevigatus (January – December 1994).

• Postgraduate Specialization Fellowship: One-year grant awarded by the Ministry of Public Education. Research carried out at the Laboratory of Agrozoology – Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, University of Ghent (Belgium) from January 4 to December 30, 1995.

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Entomology (XII Cycle): Awarded by the University of Naples "Federico II". Research activities conducted at the Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, from 1997 to 2000. Ph.D. degree conferred on February 17, 2000, by the Examination Committee 026/2000 AGRICULTURAL ENTOMOLOGY. Dissertation title: "Indagini biochimiche e biologiche per la discriminazione tassonomica di alcune specie dei generi Brachycaudus van der Goot e Anuraphis Del Guercio (Rhynchota Homoptera Aphididae)" (Biochemical and biological investigations for the taxonomic discrimination of some species of the genera Brachycaudus van der Goot and Anuraphis Del Guercio).

• AIPP Fellowship Award: Awarded by the Italian Association for Plant Protection to young researchers distinguished for the scientific value of their publications. The fellowship funded participation in the Advanced International Course on Integrated Pest and Disease Management in Protected Crops, organized by the Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) in Zaragoza (Spain) from June 12 to 23, 2000.

• Subject Matter Expert (Cultore della materia): Appointed on June 19, 2000, for disciplines within the Agricultural Entomology sector.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Assegnista di ricerca): University of Catania, Department of Phytosanitary Sciences and Technologies (2001 – 2005).

• International Research Fellowship: Postgraduate specialization grant awarded by the University of Catania, carried out at the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, La Alberca, Murcia, Spain (October – December 2002).

Academic Career & Publications

• Assistant Professor / Tenured Researcher (Ricercatore universitario a tempo indeterminato): Appointed in February 2006 for the Academic Recruitment Field (SC) Plant Pathology and Entomology, SSD AGR/11 (General and Applied Entomology) at the University of Catania.

• Lecturer: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania (2006 – 2021).

• Scientific Publications: Author and co-author of 72 publications in General and Applied Entomology in national and international journals (Scopus ID: 7004185537; 36 documents; 507 citations; H-index: 12) and 13 chapters in international volumes published by scientific editorial houses.

• National Scientific Qualification (ASN): Successfully obtained the National Scientific Qualification for the role of Associate Professor (II fascia) in the Academic Recruitment Field (SC) Plant Pathology and Entomology, during the sixth session of the 2021/2023 round (Call ASN DD n. 553 of 2.2.2021) via Ministry of University and Research decree n. 25346 on November 21, 2023.

• Associate Professor: University of Catania, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, since December 10, 2024, in the SSD AGRI 05/A (General and Applied Entomology).

Teaching Activity

• AY 2005/06 – 2009/10: Lecturer of Agricultural Zoology (3 ECTS/CFU, 24 hours) and Agricultural Parasitology (4.5 ECTS/CFU, 45 hours) – Bachelor’s degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences (Ragusa branch).

• AY 2010/11: Lecturer of Agricultural Parasitology (4.5 ECTS/CFU, 45 hours) and Protection Methods for Tropical and Subtropical Crops (3 ECTS/CFU, 60 hours) – Bachelor’s degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences (Ragusa branch).

• AY 2011/12 – 2020/21: Lecturer of Entomological Biotechnologies (6 ECTS/CFU, 60 hours) – Master’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnologies (L7) (Catania branch).

• AY 2024/25 – 2025/26: Lecturer of Biotechnologies and Arthropods (6 ECTS/CFU, 56 hours) – Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (Catania branch).

• AY 2025/26: Lecturer of General Agricultural Entomology and Parasitology – Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (L25) (Catania branch).

• Academic Mentorship: Thesis supervisor/tutor for 24 literature-review theses and 10 experimental theses for Bachelor's and Master's degree programs.

Scientific Responsibility and Research Projects

Scientific leadership and/or participation as a team member in national and international peer-reviewed research projects funded through competitive calls.

• Regional Project (Assessorato Regionale delle Risorse Agricole e Alimentari): "Innovative methodologies for the control of citrus tristeza virus" – Operational Unit of the University of Catania, GESA Department. Objective (O.R. 4): Management methods for aphid vectors of Citrus Tristeza Virus. Duration: 31 months.

• PON Project "Research and Innovation 2014-2020" – POFACS (ARS01_00640): "Shelf-life, quality, and safety of high-convenience fruit and vegetable products" – Objective (O.R. 3): Eco-sustainable protection strategies against Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci. Duration: 36 months.

• COSOFI Project: "Eco-sustainable control strategies for pests of economic interest" – University Research Incentive Plan 2020-2022 (PIA.Ce.Ri.). Duration: 24 months.

• PON Project "Research and Innovation" 2014-2020 – WATER4AGRIFOOD (cod. ARSOI_00825): "Improvement of Mediterranean agro-food production under water scarcity conditions" – Task 6: Influence of water stress on pest-plant-entomophage interactions and repercussions on key crop pest infestations. Duration: 36 months.

• Italy – Tunisia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 – PROMETEO (RefC-5-2-1-36): "Un village transfrontaliere pour protéger les cultures arboricoles méditerranéennes en partageant les connaissances" (A cross-border village to protect Mediterranean tree crops by sharing knowledge). Duration: 24 months.

• LIFE Project (LIFE18 CCA/ES/001109) – LIFE VIDA FOR CITRUS: "Development of sustainable control strategies for citrus under threat of climate change & preventing entry of HLB in EU". Duration: 48 months.

• Italy – Tunisia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020 – INTEMAR: "Surveillance et characterization de nouveaux maladie". GT3: Innovations in integrated pest and disease management recently introduced in vegetable crops. Duration: 24 months.

• PRIN 2002: "Study of Italian biotypes of Citrus Tristeza Virus (CTV), following inoculation and vector transmission, using different techniques to ascertain virulence, and characterization of tospoviruses and geminiviruses". Duration: 24 months.

• PRIN 2007: "Mechanical distribution of natural enemies in protected and open-field vegetable and ornamental crops". Duration: 24 months.

• PRIN 2014: "Long Life, High Sustainability - Shelf-Life Extension as a sustainability indicator". Duration: 24 months.

• COST Action FP1406 (2015-2019) – PINESTRENGTH: "Pine pitch canker - strategies for management of Gibberella circinata in greenhouses and forests" – WG-2/Task 4: Interactions with other forest pests and pathogens. Duration: 48 months.

• US Research Project (2017-2019): "Soybean research 2017-2019" funded by United Soybean Boards, Illinois Soybean Association, North Central Soybean Research Program, USDA USA, Agricultural Research Service, and Integrated Management of Soybean Pathogens and Pests. Duration: 24 months.

• Horizon 2020 Project – VIRTIGATION (Grant agreement n. 101000570): "Emerging viral diseases in tomato and cucurbits: implementation of mitigation strategies for durable disease management". Duration: 48 months.

• PRIN 2022 – BiPP: "Bio-inspired Plant Protection (BiPP)", serving as an expert for insect species identification. Duration: 24 months.

• INNOVAPROD Project: "Innovative Actions for the Productivity of the Quality Fruit and Vegetable District", under Action 1.3.2 ADDENDUM Local Action Plan (PAL) “Eloro 2020”. Duration: 24 months.

• Samothrace Project: "Smart System for Precision Agriculture" within the "Sicilian micro and nano technology research and innovation center (Samothrace)" (CUP E63C22000900006), under the Framework M4C2 – From Research to Business – Investment 1.3: "Creation of extended partnerships with Universities, research centers, and companies for funding basic research projects" - funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. Duration: 24 months.

• NewCitrusTech Project: "New technological solutions for the citrus supply chain", under "Action 1.3.1. - ADDENDUM Local Action Plan" (PAL) “Eloro 2020” – GAL-steered project; Measure 16.1 PSR Sicily 2014/2020.

Research Contracts and Industry Collaborations

Scientific responsibility for research agreements and conventions with public and/or private entities.

• DowAgroSciences (14.09.2014 – 13.09.2015): Principal Investigator for third-party research: "Efficacy of sulfoxaflor on key insect pests of vegetable crops (solanaceous and cucurbits) in Sicily and study on potential side effects on pollinators".

• DowAgroSciences (15.09.2015 – 31.08.2016): Principal Investigator for third-party research: "Efficacy of sulfoxaflor on whitefly species of the Bemisia tabaci group on greenhouse tomatoes in Sicily".

• AlphaBio Control, UK (20.04.2017 – 20.10.2017): Principal Investigator for third-party research: "Use of bioinsecticides for the control of Hemiptera Rhynchota", requiring the evaluation of the insecticidal activity of a novel molecule.

• DowAgroSciences (19.10.2018 – 20.10.2019): Principal Investigator for third-party research: "Side effects of sulfoxaflor on Nesidiocoris tenuis, Macrolophus pygmaeus, and Orius laevigatus, natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci".

• Corteva (01.09.2023 – 31.12.2023): Principal Investigator for third-party research: "Studies on the effects of different active ingredients and application strategies on Bemisia tabaci in protected tomato crops".

• Applied Research Project for Sicilian Citrus Industry (2026 – 2028): Principal Investigator for the applied research project: "Line 2 – Solutions to new phytosanitary emergencies of citrus", funded under the Operational Programmes of fruit and vegetable Producer Organizations (POs) carried out under the conditions of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 and Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. Duration: 3 years.

Scientific Conferences and Guest Speaking

• Organizing Committee & Citrus Working Group Member: III International Conference on Integrated Control in Citrus Fruit Crops - IOBC/WPRS, Catania, Italy (November 5–7).

• Organizing Committee & Editorial Staff: Responsible for the proceedings publication (01.09.2006 – 30.12.2008) of the XXXVII National Congress of the Italian Society of Biogeography (SIB), Catania (October 7–10, 2008).

• Organizing Secretariat & Coordinator: 8th International Symposium on Aphids, Catania, Italy (June 8–12, 2009). Appointed from September 1, 2005, to July 15, 2009.

• Invited Speaker: Specialized Course for Phytosanitary Inspectors and Agents organized by the Regional Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Mediterranean Fisheries of the Sicilian Region. Lecture: "Psille, Aleirodi e Afidi di temuta introduzione: biologia e riconoscimento degli insetti d’interesse Fitosanitario" (High-risk quarantine Psyllids, Whiteflies, and Aphids: biology and identification of insects of phytosanitary concern) – Acireale, Catania (20.01.2013).

• Invited Speaker: Closing conference of the Sicilian Region-funded project "Control of citrus tristeza virus: development and innovation". Delivered two lectures: "Metodi di contenimento degli afidi vettori della Tristezza degli agrumi" (Control methods for aphid vectors of Citrus Tristeza Virus) and "Vettori di organismi nocivi di temuta introduzione" (Vectors of high-risk quarantine harmful organisms) – Catania (23.06.2014).

• Invited Roundtable Speaker: "Insect vectors of plant pathogens", organized by the Italian National Academy of Entomology – Florence (November 14–15, 2014). Presentation title: "Vettori di malattie degli agrumi: stato attuale delle conoscenze e problemi emergenti" (Vectors of citrus diseases: current state of knowledge and emerging issues).

• Invited Speaker: National Conference organized by the Italian Association for Plant Protection (AIPP) "National Phytosanitary Balance of Citrus". Lecture: "Nuovi fitofagi di recente o temuta introduzione" (New pests of recent or high-risk introduction) – Corigliano Calabro, Cosenza (20.02.2018).

• Invited Speaker: Conference "Novità Fitoiatriche: La Difesa integrata per l’uso sostenibile dei pesticidi" (Phytiatric Innovations: Integrated Pest Management for the sustainable use of pesticides), Metaponto (MT), organized by the Basilicata Region. Presentation title: "Agrumi: gestione fitosanitaria dei nuovi impianti" (Citrus: phytosanitary management of new orchards) (12.02.2019).

• Invited Speaker: European Consortium "PreHLB - Preventing HLB epidemics for ensuring citrus survival in Europe" at the Conference "State of the art and interventions for preventing the introduction and spread of HLB in Italy". Presentation: "Gli insetti vettori di HLB: possibilità di ambientamento in Italy e riconoscimento per una precoce individuazione" (HLB insect vectors: potential establishment in Italy and identification for early detection) – Catania (09.05.2022).

• Invited Speaker: Technical meeting organized by the Regional Plant Health Observatory and PO "Viva di Natura" on "Aleurocanthus spiniferus in Sicilia" – Caltagirone (23.11.2023).

• Invited Speaker (Remote): AIPP / "Le Giornate Fitopatologiche" event. Presentation: "Aleurocanthus spiniferus: breve storia di un’invasione" (Aleurocanthus spiniferus: brief history of an invasion) (02.02.2024).

• Invited Speaker (Remote): Seminar organized by the National Association of Exporting Nurserymen (ANVE). Presentation: "Aleurocanthus spiniferus alla conquista dell’Europa?" (Aleurocanthus spiniferus conquering Europe?) (18.06.2024).

• Invited Speaker: Seminar organized by CREA-OFA in Acireale. Presentation: "Strategie di contenimento di vecchi e nuovi fitofagi nell’agrumeto e impatto dei cambiamenti climatici" (Control strategies for old and new pests in citrus orchards and the impact of climate change) – Acireale (20.10.2024).

• Invited Speaker: Training and Refresher Course organized by the National College of Agricultural Technicians and Graduate Agricultural Technicians (Catania-Siracusa Interprovincial chapter) held at the NH Hotel (Piazza Trento, Catania) on October 26, 2024 (08:30 - 13:30). Presentation: "Strategie di contenimento di vecchi e nuovi fitofagi a seguito dell'impatto dei cambiamenti climatici sulla biocenosi nell'agro-ecosistema agrumicolo" (Control strategies for old and new pests following the impact of climate change on the biocenosis in the citrus agro-ecosystem).

• Invited Speaker: "Citrus Forum" Conference organized by Fruit Communication, in collaboration with Fruit Lab and Studio Agronomico Coragro – Catania (05.05.2026).

• Invited Speaker: Seminar "Agrumicoltura: aggiornamenti fitoiatriche e difesa per un'agricoltura sostenibile" (Citrus farming: phytiatric updates and crop protection for sustainable agriculture), organized by SIPCAM Italia – Catania (13.05.2026).

Institutional Service and Ph.D. Faculty Membership

• Faculty Board Member (Collegio dei docenti): Ph.D. program in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, University of Catania (Ragusa branch) — From 01.01.2008 to 31.12.2008.

• Faculty Board Member: Ph.D. program in Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, University of Catania (Ragusa branch) — From 01.01.2009 to 31.12.2009.

• Faculty Board Member: International Ph.D. program in Phytosanitary Technologies and Defense of Agro-ecosystems, University of Catania — From 01.01.2010 to 31.12.2010.

• Faculty Board Member: Ph.D. program in Phytosanitary Technologies and Defense of Agro-ecosystems, University of Catania — From 01.01.2011 to 31.12.2011.

• Faculty Board Member: Ph.D. program in Phytosanitary Technologies and Defense of Agro-ecosystems, University of Catania — From 01.01.2012 to 31.12.2012.

Last edit: 03/13/2025

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