96984 - Entomology of Green and Landscape

Learning outcomes

At the end of the teaching, the student will know the main arthropods of plants, both in the urban and the rural landscape. He can diagnose and recognize the potential insect damages to urban plants, and is able to assess the application of decision-making processes, with particular reference to the plant protection. The student is also able to recognize the main beneficial insects of the urban and rural landscape, and the methods and techniques for their conservation. The student has learned skills that will allow him to be able to apply the most recent techniques and laws within sustainable plant protection, in view of the conservation of biodiversity.

Course contents

The student who accesses this teaching has a good preparation in the fundamentals of zoology, acarology, general entomology, plant biodiversity, landscape ecology. Such knowledge and skills are provided by the teachings delivered during 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 is compulsory since 2014 in the European community .

• Insects (0.5 CFU): insect metamorphosis, post-embryonic stages and emergence. Trophic webs involving insects and plants. Systematic of insects. Insect biodiversity. Ecosystem services and functional diversity. Pollinator, pest and entomophagous insects.
• Insect pests of urban plants and rural landscape (1.5 CFU): Pest species: Corythucha ciliata. Cameraria ohridiella. Metcalfa pruinosa. Ceroplastes spp. Eucallipterus tiliae, Patchiella reaumuri, Phylloxera spp., Cinara spp., Cedrobium spp.. Cossus cossus, Zeuzera pyrina, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Tortrix viridana. Cydalima perspectalis, Cerambix cerdo, Saperda carcharias, Anoplophora chinensis. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Dryocosmus kuriphilus, Crisicoccus pini. Other insects of green and landscape, including emerging pests. Arthropod pests of the ornamental plants e relate control techniques. Beneficial arthropods, including predators, parasitoids and pollinators.
• Principles of plant protection (0.5 CFU): the concept of insect damage on urban plants, economic thresholds, insect damage evaluation, insect of urban plants and social interest, Integrated Pest Management (insect sampling, physical and mechanical control, biological control, mandatory measures, semiochemicals, chemical control, insecticide classification, non-target effects of insecticides, insecticide selectivity, endtherapy and esotherapy). Use of entomophagous arthropods in biological control. Importance of insect biodiversity conservation.
• Insects and the landscape with particular reference to rural landscape (0.5 CFU): ecological focus areas and insect conservation. The role of nectar and pollen as food for beneficial insects. Flowering plants and ecological networks for beneficial insect enhancement. The habitat directive and the conservation of protected species.

Readings/Bibliography

For the preparation of the course, the teacher will provide the PowerPoint lessons used during the teaching. The lessons are also available in RISORSE DIDATTICHE SU VIRTUALE. 

For further information, the following books are recommended:

• Butturini A., Galassi T., 2014 - DIfesa fitosanitaria in produzione integrata (capter 2, 3, 8, 9, 13). Edagricole.
• Colazza S., Peri E., Lo Bue P., 2018 - Lineamenti di entomologia in agricoltura bioogca. Palermo University Press.
• Pollini A., 2013 - Entomologia applicata. Edagricole, Sole 24 ore.

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of theoretical lectures and practical activities.

• Lectures (18 hours) treat the program in a theoretical way.

The practical activities (12 hours) treat aspects such as: the identification of the insects by means of photographic material, audio-visual media and entomological boxes; diagnosis of pest damages with photographic material; critical analysis of plant protection plans, with particular reference to the Emilia Romagna region; visits to sites involved to green and landscape conservation.

Assessment methods

The course is part of the Integrated Course "Patologia ed entomologia" ." Therefore, the evaluation of the Course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of all the teachings.

Teaching tools

PC, projector.

The teacher will show to the students insects within entomological boxes, in order to train them to practical identification.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Burgio