About
45
Publications
32,275
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
1,219
Citations
Introduction
Skills and Expertise
Publications
Publications (45)
Background
Among the Citrus species, lemon (Citrus limon Burm f.) is one of the most affected by the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch). Moreover, chemical control is hampered by the mite’s ability to develop genetic resistance against acaricides. In this context, the identification of the genetic basis of the host resistance could...
Many wood-boring insects use aggregation pheromones during mass colonization of host trees. Bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are a model system, but much less is known about the role of semiochemicals during host selection by ambrosia beetles. As an ecological clade within the bark beetles, ambrosia beetles are obligately dependent on funga...
The development of effective control strategies targeting non-native ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculioni-dae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) represents an emerging challenge. This is due both to their rapid spread into climatically suitable newly invaded regions rich in susceptible host plants and to the limited knowledge concerning sustainable...
BACKGROUND
Exotic ambrosia beetles are emerging widespread pests of several wild and managed trees and shrubs. Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) is one of the most invasive species causing damage to a broad range of host plants. Little information is available on its control, including the impact of insecticides. Bioassays were conducted to evaluate...
Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is among the most invasive ambrosia beetles causing severe damage to host plants belonging to various ecosystems. Foundress females excavate galleries into the plant xylem introducing mutualistic ambrosia fungi which are the exclusive food source for their offspring. The crypt...
We provide an overview of both traditional and innovative control tools for management of three Xylosandrus ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), invasive species with a history of damage in forests, nurseries, orchards and urban areas. Xylosandrus compactus , X. crassiusculus and X. germanus are native to Asia, and currently es...
Exotic ambrosia beetles are increasing in Europe due to global trade and global warming. Among these xylomycetophagous insects, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a serious threat for several Mediterranean host plants. Carob trees growing in Sicily (Italy) have been extensively attacked by beetles leading to rapid tree...
An overview on the bio-ecology, natural enemies and pest contol tools of the main pests infesting carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.), pods and seeds in the Mediterranean region is provided herein. Most of the species are occasionally present on host carobs where they did not cause serious damage. In particular, the occurrence of mealybugs, soft and...
The factors influencing the entry and the spread of the black twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff), in the Mediterranean environment have not yet been characterized. Following its first report in Sicily (southern Italy) in 2016, and due to the high level of damage it causes on one of its host plants ( Ceratonia siliqua L.), the flight activ...
Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important biocontrol agent of several key arthropod pests, including the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). However, it can cause economic damage owing to its herbivory. Risk assessment on plant for the predator under diferent temperature thresholds is necessary fo...
Xylosandrus compactus (Eichhoff), commonly known as the black twig borer, was reported in Sicily (Italy) at the end of 2016, infesting Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) twigs, large branches, and trunks. Previous research indicated that X. compactus attacks only small twigs and branches, not large branches and tree trunks. This unusual behavior was...
Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead) is an eriophyid mite extremely dangerous in several Citrus growing areas. During the 60s, its presence was wrongly suspected in Italy, limited to Sicily, but it has never been confirmed later. Since that time, the record of this mite has been confusing often denied often considered true, without any further investi...
Biological control remains unutilized as yet in the framework of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura management. Although several parasitoid species attack the pest under laboratory conditions, information is lacking on their host-finding and dispersal capabilities in natural environments. We tested the effect of repeated parasitoid releases on D. suzukii...
In October 2014 samples were collected from olive trees growing in South-Eastern Sicily (Italy) that were showing wilting symptoms. In the field, clear signs of flagging appeared on young twigs and lateral shoots, and many leaves had fallen to the ground. Initial laboratory examinations of attacked twigs revealed the presence of a large number of a...
Background:
Complexity of both natural and managed ecosystems involves various forms of interaction among organisms. Two or more species that exploit the same resource can engage in competitive behaviors, usually referred to as intra-guild interactions. These can be direct, i.e. one species feeds directly upon the competitor (intra-guild predation...
It has been proved that the omnivorous predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) is attracted to and can develop successfully on sesame (Sesamum indicum). In this study, the potential of this plant, compared with Dittrichia viscosa and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), to attract the mirid bug was assessed. A Y-tube olfactometer was used to te...
Abstract Grain legumes play an important role in community livelihood and in the national economy in Kenya. Unfortunately, in many African countries, production doesn't satisfy the demand in grains due to various constrains. Understanding farmers practices and behavior in the management of grain legume pests is a crucial step in the development of...
Nesidiocoris
tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) is an important natural enemy of several key arthropod pests. However, in tomato crop this predator can cause economic damage owing to its zoophytophagous behavior. We investigated in laboratory conditions the influence of two alternative plants, Dittrichia
viscosa L. (Asteraceae) and Sesamum
indicu...
Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom is an important pest of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in Africa. To propose an alternative to chemical control, the repellency of 24 plant extracts was evaluated against adult female thrips of M. sjostedtiin the laboratory. Plant extracts in ethanol were separately applied on a filter paper disk in a still air visual...
Insect-proof nets are thought to be effective physical barriers to protect tomato crops against several insect pests, including the invasive tomato pest, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). However, protected tomato crops are frequently infested by this destructive pest, and there is a higher infestation of plants closer to openings...
The Persea Mite Oligonychus perseae Tuttle, Baker and Abbatiello, is reported for the first time in Italy. The pest was found on avocado in Sicily (South Italy), in August 2014. The predatory mite Iphiseius degenerans (Berlese) was found in association with O. perseae colonies.
The major sustainable control strategies of the Tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are
here reported. After describing the economic importance and the highlights of the biology of the exotic pest we define the most
promising integrated pest management techniques. Within preventive strategies we focused the possible...
Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an invasive pest of tomato native to South America, where it is responsible for extensive damage. It rapidly spread into several European countries, becom-ing a key pest. Knowledge of its main biological traits can be used to develop effective plant protection management strategies. It is a multivoltine species with a hom...
The tomato borer Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an invasive pest native to South America and since its arrival in Europe the tomato production has faced severe yield loss. The complex of indigenous parasitoids that colonized this new host species was monitored in Southern Italy during 2009-2011, in some of the regions where T. absoluta was initially de...
A prototype of a device for centrifugal distribution of arthropods was constructed in order to carry out the distribution of natural enemies both in open field and in greenhouses, installing three or more prototypes on a horizontal bar carried by a tractor or a wheel frame. Preliminary tests were conducted under laboratory conditions to evaluate th...
The correct identification of pests is a basic requirement in IPM strategies for crop protection. In the case of Planococcus species the discrimination between similar taxa using morphological features is sometimes difficult because it is based on few microscopic characteristics not easily detectable. This is the case of the polyphagous and cosmopo...
The present work contributes to an accurate quantification method of the parameters of the biotic potential of Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera Aphelinidae), applicable to other species of whitefly parasitoids. The oviposition devices are easy to make and they allow standardisation of a whitefly parasitoid study by daily observations of the main...
The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret), and the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), are currently the most economically important pseudococcids in vineyards in Italy (Dalla Montà et al., 2001). Pl. ficus is also considered to be a key pest in many other countries (Ben-Dov, 1994). The two species cause severe damage to the host plan...
Physical management of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), the vector of tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD), has been widely applied in Sicily (South Italy) so far, through the application of insect-proof screens to greenhouse openings. Alternative techniques have been explored, such as the application of photoselective films as greenhous...
Protected vegetable crops are largely developed in Sicily, especially in the southeastern part of the island, where Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae are mainly grown, mostly under cold plastic-houses. Damage caused by pests (especially Nematodes, Mites and Insects) is conspicuous on these crops and their control involves great efforts. Against these pe...
Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) cause serious economic damages on tomato protected crops in South-Eastern Sicily (Italy), due to their peculiar habits and the difficulty of controlling their populations. The role of biocontrol agents of armyworms is mainly carried out by generalist predators and parasitoids, esp...
Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia begomovirus (TYLCSV) appeared in Sicilia (IT) in 1988, creating great threats to agriculture and causing huge losses, especially in south-eastern areas of the island, where protected tomato cultivation is widespread. Towards the mid-1990s, a reduction occurred in the virus epidemics, probably due to new approaches w...