Anatomy, morphology and physiology of insects. Main systems and development of insects. Population dynamic of the insects in different agroecosystems. Control strategies vs insect pests. Integrated Pest Management and biocontrol of insect pests. IPM in olive crops, in vineyards and glasshouses.
Textbooks: Basic Entomology: E. Tremblay, Entomologia applicata. Vol. I, parte I. Generalità e mezzi di controllo. Liguori editore, Napoli. Atlante entomologico. G. Fiori, F. Bin, A. Sensidoni, Galeno Editrice, Perugia; Gullan P.J., Cranston P.S., 2006.- Lineamenti di Entomologia. Applied Entomology: Olive crop and Glasshouse systems: slides booklets and articles released in a Moodle platform; La mosca delle olive Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) – Manuale pratico per il controllo della specie in Toscana. A cura di A: Belcari, Fondazione Clima e Sostenibilità, Firenze. Vineyard system: A. Lucchi, Note di Entomologia viticola, terza edizione, Pisa, University press
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: basic knowledge of applied zoology in temperate areas
Competence acquired (at the end of the course): In the field of agricultural entomology
Skills acquired (at the end of the course): to plan a correct IPM strategy against insect pests
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended)
Courses required:
Courses recommmended:
Teaching Methods
Credits: 6, 1Credit= 8 hours; total hours scheduled for the course: 48
Lectures : 34
Laboratory/practice: 8
Seminars/excursions: 6
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab: recommended
Teaching tools:
movies, insects pests slides, entomological boxes and living insects pests
Type of Assessment
Oral examination
Course program
Introduction. Insects within Arthropods. Morphology of Insects: head, thorax and abdomen. Mouth parts and feeding activity.
Anatomy and physiology of the following systems: integument, nervous, endocrine, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory, reproductive. The insect life cycle. Reproduction and development. Molting process, metamorphosis. General models of the life cycle. The no-metamorphosis model. The gradual metamorphosis model. The incomplete metamorphosis model. The complete metamorphosis model. The adult. Reproductive behavior and foraging strategies. Pheromones. Insects classification. Useful and harmful species. Insects collecting and species identification. The entomological box. Insects pest control. Integrated Pest Management. Biological control. Surveillance and sampling.
IPM strategies in olive orchards, vineyards and in glasshouses.