General entomology: external morphology, anatomy and physiology of insects. Insect development and metamorphosis models. Insect life cycles. Ecological features and damage of insect pests to crops. Fundamentals of IPM. Control methods: cultural practices, physical and mechanical control, biological control. Chemical control: properties and use of insecticides. Main insect pests of olive trees and vineyards.
Textbooks
Tremblay E., Entomologia applicata, Vol. I. Generalità e mezzi di controllo. 2003 (VII edizione), Ed. Liguori, Napoli. Zangheri S., Masutti L., 2001 - Entomologia generale e applicata. Cedam, Padova.
For further information: Gli insetti e il loro controllo, 2014 (a cura di F. Pennacchio) Liguori Editore, Napoli (individual chapters in digital format are also on sale). Lecture slides and specific scientific papers will be provided.
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired (at the end of the course)
Knowledge on the most common insect pests and beneficial insects living in agroecosystems as well as on main control methods of insect pests.
Competence acquired (at the end of the course)
Awareness of fundamentals needed to apply integrated insect pest management to protect crops; appropriate use of control methods.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course)
Capability to diagnose symptoms caused by main insect pests to crops, as well as to plan appropriate control strategies to protect crops.
Prerequisites
No one requirements is mandatory, however general knowledge on biology, ecology and agronomy would help to approach the course content.
Teaching Methods
The course includes lectures (about 38 hours) and laboratory and field trials (about 8-10 hours) for a total of 48 hours. Possibly, also seminars will be planned (2 hours).
Attendance at lectures and laboratory or field training is not compulsory, although strongly recommended.
Examination will be conducted as an oral assessment aimed at evaluating 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.
Students can take written examination, instead of oral questions, if they prefer.
Course program
Taxonomical relationships between insects, arthropods and other animals. Insect diversity in rural environments: useful, harmful and harmless species. External morphology: functional adaptations of insects according to different kinds of injury. Mouth parts and feeding activity. Anatomy and basic physiology of the main systems: integument, nervous, endocrine, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory and reproductive system. Reproduction and development: moulting and metamorphosis. The main metamorphosis models. Insect life cycles and biotic potential. Insects classification: main insect Orders living in rural habitats. General bioecology of sucking insect pests, foliage feeders and wood borers. Other insect pests. Evolution of pest control methods. Fundamentals of IPM. Monitoring, sampling, damage and economic threshold. Control strategies and methods: cultural practices, physical and control, biological control. Chemical control: properties and use of insecticides. Insecticide regulations and quarantine service.
Insect pests and beneficials in olive groves, vineyards and cereals: damage and appropriate control methods.
Training activities. Observations of insects and insect structures through the stereomicroscope. Sampling techniques, collection and insect preparation. Diagnosis of symptoms caused by insects to plants. Species identification of the most common insects living in rural habitats. Discussion with a technician on practical problems arisen by using insecticides in agriculture.
Sustainable Development Goals 2030
Health and wellness.
Decent work and economic growth.
Life on earth.