00283 - Agricultural Entomology

Learning outcomes

The student will learn the fundamentals of the morphology and biology of the insect pests of crops, their biological cycles and their damage. The student will learn the basic aspects of the integrated pest management of herbivorous insects, in the view of deepening knowledge on the best practice of insect pest control and beneficial insect conservation.

Course contents

 General characteristics, morphology, anatomy, physiology of insects

1.2. Insect classification and differences with other Arthropods

1.3. Morphology, anatomy, physiology of insects

1.3.1.Morphology: integument, head, mouthparts, torax, legs and wings, abdomen and its appendices

1.3.2. Anatomy: internal structure of the insect body, in particular gut, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, exocrine and endocrine systems

 1.3.3. Physiology: pheromones, hormones and their functions; reproduction modes; moults and metamorphosis, immature stages, adult

2. Insects in the agricultural environment

2.1. Insects and environment

2.1.1. Mutualistic symbiosis insect/insect and insect/plant (pollinators)

2.1.2. Antagonistic symbiosis insect/insect (parasitoids and predators),  insect/plant (herbivorous insects and damage), plant/insect (plant resistance)

2.1.3. Adaptation to the enviroment voltinism; diapause e pseudodiapause; mimicry

2.2. Semiochemicals

2.2.1. Pheromones and allelochemicals

2.2.2. Kairomones, allomones, synomones

2.3. Population dynamics (Biotic potential snd environmental resistance factors, abiotic and  biotic)

2.4. Spread of insects. Problems related to the introduction of exotic species in new environmentsi. EPPO and other inter-government organizations

2.5. Aggregations and societies

3. Control of herbivorous insect pests in the agroecosystem

3.1. Biological and microbial control

3.1.1. Biological control

3.1.2. Microbial control with special regard to the products based on Bacillus thuringiensis

3.1.3. Biotechnical methods

3.2. Agronomic, mechanical, physical methods.

3.3. Insecticides and their side effects

3.4. Guided and integrated control (IPM)

3.2.1. Economical thresholds

3.2.2. Monitoring

3.3.3. How to apply IPM

4. Special part

4.1. Overview and biological characteristics of the different Orders of the Class of Insecta. Carachteristics, biological cycle, damage and control of insects of particular relevance in agriculture. The list is the following:

Collembola (Order characteristics)

Ephemeroptera (Order characteristics)

Odonata (Order characteristics; characteristics of the Zygoptera and Anisoptera)

Blattodea (Order characteristics - remember the two synantropic species  Blatta orientalis and Blattella germanica)

Mantodea (main characteristics)

Isoptera (Order characteristics - termite societies)

Dermaptera (Order characteristics- remember the species Forficula auricularia)

Phasmatodea (Order characteristics)

Orthoptera (Order characteristics- Differences between Ensifera and Caelifera. Remember the species Gryllus campestris, Gryllomorpha dalmatina, Dociostaurus maroccanus, Calliptamus italicus). Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa: morphology, biology, damage, control.

Tysanoptera (Order characteristics - Differences between Terebrantia and Tubulifera. Thrips tabaci. Frankliniella occidentalis: morphology, biology, damage. Control

Rhynchota (Order characteristics - Differences between Heteroptera and Homoptera (Auchenorrhyncha and Sternorrhyncha). Heteroptera:  Nezara viridula, Halyomorpha halys: morphology, biology, damage, control. Tingidae (Corythuca ciliata). Miridae: Calocoris spp., Lygus rugulipennis. Anthocoridae (remember Orius laevigatus, Macrolophus caliginosus, Anthocoris nemoralis). Aphrophoridae (remember Philaenus spumarius). Cicadellidae: Scaphoideus titanus : morphology, biology, damage and control. Flatidae: Metcalfa pruinosa. Psyllidae: Cacopsylla pyri: morphology, biology, damage, control. Aleyrodidae (Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci): morphology,  biology, damage, control. Aphids and their life cycle. Remember Aphis pomi, Dysaphis plantaginea, Eriosoma lanigerum, Myzus persicae Aphis gossypii) - damage, control, natural enemies. Pseudococcidae (Planococcus sp. Pseudococcus sp.) Diaspididae (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Pseudalacaspis pentagona) biology, damage, control. Neuroptera and Trichoptera: Brief outlines. Lepidoptera: characteristics. Anarsia lineatella, Lobesia botrana, Cydia pomonella, Agrotis ipsilon, Thaumetopea pityocampa, Lymantria dispar, Ostrinia nubilalis, Cossus cossus, Zeuzera pyrina: morphology, biology, damage, control. Diptera: characteristics. Nematocera and Brachycera (Orthorapha and Cyclorapha).  Trypetidae: Bactrocera oleae, Ceratitis capitata, Rhagoletis cerasi. Drosophilidae: Drosophila suzukii: morphology, biology, damage, control. Beneficial Diptera: Syrphidae, Tachinidae. Coleoptera: general characteristics. Chrysomelidae: Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Scaraboeidae: Remember Melolontha melolontha. Cerambycidae. Curculionidae: Conorrhynchus mendicus: morphology, biology, damage and control. Elateridae: Agriotes spp.: morphology, biology, damage and control. Beneficial Coleoptera: Coccinellidae Hymenoptera: general characteristics, Synphyta and Apocrita (Terebrantia and Aculeata). Dryocosmus kuriphilus: morphology, biology, damage and control. Parasitic Hymenoptera Terebrantia. Aculeata: remember Vespa crabro, Apis mellifera

Readings/Bibliography

van Emden H. F., 2013.- Handbook of Agricultural Entomology. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0470-65913-7

Teaching methods

Front lectures

Assessment methods

Oral exam on the course contents

Teaching tools

Computer, Videoprojector, Entomological collection, Insect colonies

Office hours

See the website of Maria Luisa Dindo