Fundamentals of IPM.
Critical review of the available control techniques, highlighting sustainable control practices.
Evaluation and choice of available control methods.
IPM of insect pests of case studies.
Gli insetti e il loro controllo, 2014 (F. Pennacchio ed.) Liguori Editore, Napoli: capitoli 17-26.
Altieri et al., 2003 – Biodiversità e controllo dei fitofagi negli agroecosistemi. Acc. Naz. Ital. Entomol., Firenze, 223 pp.
Pollini A., 2013. Entomologia applicata. Edagricole.
Benuzzi M., Vacante V., 2004. Difesa fitosanitaria in agricoltura biologica. Edagricole.
Recommended english textbooks:
Rechcigl J.E., Rechcigl N.A., 2000 – Insect pest management. Techniques for environmental protection. CRC Press, 392 pp;
Rechcigl J.E., Rechcigl N.A., 2000 - Biological and bitechnological control of insect pests. CRC Press, 374 pp.
The teacher will provide the presentations used for lectures and scientific articles related to the topics discussed, using Moodle platform.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course the student will be able to control insect pests according to IPM principles, to choice and use appropriate control methods, to use natural enemies and to manage field margins in order to improve insect pest control.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge on biology, general zoology and entomology.
Courses required: General and applied entomology (taught in bachelor’s degree).
Courses recommended: Agricultural or forestry ecology.
Teaching Methods
Lectures (using visual aids such as presentations and short movies), field trials, laboratory observations, seminars.
Type of Assessment
Examination will be conducted asking oral questions in order to evaluate to which extent students have learnt the topics taught in the course. The overall evaluation will be based on: full understanding of the subject (from basic knowledge to specific aspects), exposure clarity, fulfilled requirements, language accuracy, synthesis ability and skill in connecting different topics.
Student can take written examination, instead of oral questions, if they prefer.
Course program
Fundamentals of IPM.
Damage assessment. Monitoring, sampling methods and economic thresholds.
Characteristics of pest control techniques. Sanitation and physical control. Cultural practices useful to enhance insect pest control. Role of hedgerows. Field margins and relationships with beneficial insects.
History of Biological control. Natural enemies: biological features of parasitoids and predators. Main taxonomic groups. Biological control methods: conservation, introduction, augmentation.
Semiochemicals and pheromones. Principles of mass trapping and male disruption techniques.
Area-wide IPM. Sterile Insect Technique.
Microbial insecticides.
Sustainability of chemical insecticides: insecticide selectivity and toxicity to beneficial insects.
Case studies of IPM for key insect pests of: grapevine, olive tree, fruit trees, protected crops.