18160 - Grape Entomology

Learning outcomes

The student at the end of the course knows pest arthropods of the vineyard and related damage, and he is able to plan the integrated and organic pest management on this crop.  The student is able to apply methods and techniques to enhance natural enemies in the vineyard, and to identify and sample the main beneficial arthropods. The student has learned skills that will allow him to be able to apply the most recent techniques for sustainable vineyard protection, with the aim to conserve the functional biodiversity.

Course contents

The student who accesses this teaching has a good preparation in the matters concerning plant biology and viticultural techniques. Such knowledge and skills are provided by the teachings of the first and second year.

To acquire the ability to plan the techniques for insect control and management  is a priority in the training of a graduate in agricultural disciplines, because integrated pest management will become a compulsory discipline from 2014 in the European community.

    Introduction to the Arthropods (0.5 CFU): Spidermites and Insects.
    Insects (1.5 CFU):  morphology,  external anatomy, cuticle,   color, head, mouthparts, thorax, legs and wings, abdomen, muscular system, nervous system and sense organs, digestive system and nutrition, respiratory system, circulatory system, excretory system, endocrine and secretory system, hormones, pheromones and exocrine glands, reproductive system and reproduction, eggs, fertility, metamorphosis, young and adult stages, sexual dimorphism, aggregation of individuals, insects and the Environment (diapause, population dynamics, spread of the species), insects and plants (pollinators, pests and relate damages), plant resistance,  natural enemies: predators (Coleoptera Coccinellidae and Carabidae, Diptera Syrphidae, Neuroptera Chrysopidae, Hemiptera) and parasitoids (Terebrantia and Aculeata), other arthropod predators (phytoseiid mites), semiochemicals.
    Most important arthropod pests of the vineyard (1.5 CFU)  - For each species, biology, identification, cycle and phenology are presented:  Spidermites (Panonychus ulmi, Eotetranychus carpini,  Calomerus vitis, Calepitrimerus vitis),  Thrips ( Drepanothrips reuteri),   Leafhoppers, scales and aphids (Empoasca vitis, Scaphoiudeus titanus, Hyalestes obsoletus, Metcalfa pruinosa, Stuctocephala bisonia, Pseudocossus ficus, Viteus vitifoliae =Phylloxera castatrix), Moths (Lobesia botrana, Eupoecilia ambiguella, Argyrotaenia pulchellana, Noctua fimbriata, Theresimima amplelophaga),  Beetles (Sinoxylon perforans, Sinoxylon sexdentatum,  Byctiscusbetulae, Otioprrynchus spp.),  Flies ( Dichelomyia oenophile).
    Vineyard protection (2.5 CFU): principles of plant protection, Economic thresholds,  insect damage evaluation,  Integrated Pest Management, biodiversity conservation, Insect sampling in the vineyard (methods and techniques, sequential sampling), semiochemical and pheromones ( monitoring and mating disruption of Lobesia botrana),  Herbivore-induced plant volatiles and their role in vineyard protection, Phylloxera management by resistant plants, biological control in the vineyard (importation, augmentation, conservation), microbial control of leptidopteran by Bacillus thuringiensis,  mandatory measures for Scaphoiudeus titanus,  insecticide classification by Mode of Action (sensu IRAC, Insecticide Resistence Action Committee), non-target effects of insecticides, resistance management,  Insecticide selectivity, Integrated Pest Management plans with particular reference to Emilia-Romagna region, from integrated to organic management,  vineyard protection in the organic system.

Readings/Bibliography

For the preparation of the course, the teacher will provide the PowerPoint lessons used during the teaching.

For further information, the following books are recommended:

    Lucchi A., 2014  Note di entomologia viticola. Pisa University Press.   
    Ragusa S., Tsolakis H., 2006 La difesa della vite dagli artropodi dannosi. Università  degli studi di Palermo

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures and practical lectures and activities.

Lectures (36 hours) includes: theoretical lessons; analysis of integrated pest management plans, with particular reference to the Emilia Romagna region.

Practical lectures and activities (24 hours) include; identification of pests and related damage,  and beneficial arthropods, using photographic material;  visits to vineyards,  including field identification of insects and related damage, and practical demonstration of sustainable protection techniques.

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the student skill is based on the final examination, consisting of 3 questions on the syllabus of the course.

Teaching tools

PC, projector

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Burgio

See the website of Maria Luisa Dindo