- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Plant and animal studies
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Research on scale insects
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Agricultural Practices and Plant Genetics
- Entomological Studies and Ecology
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
University of Reggio Calabria
2016-2025
University of Palermo
2022-2024
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zoologia Agraria
2017
Among botanical extracts used as insecticides, essential oils (EOs) are promising alternatives to chemical insecticides. EOs synthesized by plants, and they play a key role in plant signaling processes including also attractiveness toward pollinators beneficial insects. Plant species producing (over 17,000 species) called aromatic plants distributed worldwide. Our review aims evaluate research studies published the last 15 years concerning use of stored product protection. More than 50%...
The repeated use of conventional synthetic pesticides in crop protection leads to resistance development by pests along with a negative impact on the environment, particularly non-target arthropods. Plant-derived active compounds, such as essential oils (EOs), play key role sustainably controlling pests. lethal and sublethal activity citrus peel EOs emulsions included polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanoparticles (EO-NPs) was determined against invasive tomato pest Tuta absoluta. Their effects...
Microorganisms are acknowledged for their role in shaping insects' evolution, life history and ecology. Previous studies have shown that microbial communities harbored within insects vary through ontogenetic development among feeding on different host-plant species. In this study, we characterized the bacterial microbiota of highly polyphagous Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae), at instars when Our results show hosted fly differs Most bacteria by belong to...
Post-harvest pest control can rely on few approved pesticides and tools; hence, there is a rising interest in new sustainable, eco-friendly approaches. In this study, eight commercial essential oils (EOs) (anise Pimpinella anisum, artemisia Artemisia vulgaris, fennel Foenicum vulgare, garlic Allium sativum, lavender Lavandula angustifolia, mint Mentha piperita, rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, sage Salvia officinalis) were selected for their bioactivity availability, then formulated...
Abstract The ecotoxicological consequences of synthetic pesticides have encouraged stakeholders to search for eco-friendly pest control tools, like essential oils (EOs). Nano-delivery systems (nanoparticles and nano-emulsions) seem ideal developing EO-based biopesticides, although production processes should be standardized implemented. In this study, nano-emulsions loaded with a high amount Allium sativum L. EO (15%) were developed using different mixed bottom-up/top-down processes. Garlic...
The efficacy of natural enemies in controlling pests under field conditions is largely correlated with their capacity to spread within infested crops.In this study the spatial dispersal California red scale parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was evaluated after augmentative releases.The experiment conducted 2007 six 1-ha plots a Sicilian citrus orchard integrated pest management.A total 180,000 A. adults released each three and other were left as untreated...
Honeybees are critically important for the environment and to economy. However, there in substantial decline worldwide, leading serious threat stability yield of food crops. Beekeeping is pivotal importance, combining wide economical aspect honey production ecological services provided by honeybees. In this scenario, prompt identification beekeeping areas strategic, since it maximised productivity lowered risks colony losses. Fuzzy logic an ideal approach problem-solving tasks, as...
, commonly known as the Egyptian or African cotton leafworm, is a significant agricultural threat. It widely distributed in Africa, Mediterranean Europe, and Middle Eastern countries. This polyphagous pest infests numerous crop plants across 44 families, including cotton, soybeans, alfalfa, sweet potato, pepper, eggplant, tomato, maize, lettuce, strawberry, wheat, hibiscus. The damage caused by