Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy
An area-wide augmentative biological control program against vineyard mealybugs was conducted in a Lambrusco vineyard cultivation area in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy), releasing the parasitoid Anagyrus vladimiri and the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. A sampling program was establi...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Biological Control |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001100 |
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| author | Giovanni Burgio Serena Magagnoli Roberto Mondini Emilio Guerrieri Luca Casoli Marco Profeta Sabina Capponcelli Alessandro Castiglioni Stefano Meglioraldi Matteo Mora Stefania Valeriani Martina Parrilli |
| author_facet | Giovanni Burgio Serena Magagnoli Roberto Mondini Emilio Guerrieri Luca Casoli Marco Profeta Sabina Capponcelli Alessandro Castiglioni Stefano Meglioraldi Matteo Mora Stefania Valeriani Martina Parrilli |
| author_sort | Giovanni Burgio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An area-wide augmentative biological control program against vineyard mealybugs was conducted in a Lambrusco vineyard cultivation area in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy), releasing the parasitoid Anagyrus vladimiri and the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. A sampling program was established to evaluate the biological control efficacy of these natural enemies, within 16 pilot farms, following the principles of the Integrated Pest Management adopted in the region. The effectiveness of the natural enemies was evaluated by comparing the situation before and after 3 years of releases. Results showed that the dominant mealybug was Pseudococcus comstocki (75 % in 2019 and 86 % in 2022), followed by Planococcus ficus. A significant increase in parasitism rate and predator density was recorded in release farms compared to the control ones, with the parasitism rate reaching a median value of about 80 %. Mealybug infestation patterns, and to some extent the activity of natural enemies, showed some variability among the farms monitored. A positive correlation between A. vladimiri and C. mountrouzieri biocontrol activity revealed a lack of competition between them. The increase of insecticide treatments in release farms did not result in a higher efficacy of control, but negatively affected the parasitism rate. In conclusion, augmentative biological control promoted the activity of natural enemies, likely enhancing the dispersal of parasitoids. Our results highlight the need to combine a biological control strategy with an Integrated Pest Management approach based on the reduction of insecticide sprays, the use of more selective active ingredients, and the proper timing of treatments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b0ef0084e2a4f9f82864f2e680aa45f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1049-9644 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biological Control |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b0ef0084e2a4f9f82864f2e680aa45f2025-08-20T03:10:18ZengElsevierBiological Control1049-96442025-07-0120610580010.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105800Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern ItalyGiovanni Burgio0Serena Magagnoli1Roberto Mondini2Emilio Guerrieri3Luca Casoli4Marco Profeta5Sabina Capponcelli6Alessandro Castiglioni7Stefano Meglioraldi8Matteo Mora9Stefania Valeriani10Martina Parrilli11Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di Bologna, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di Bologna, Italy; Corresponding author.Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di Bologna, ItalyIstituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, URT CNR IPSP – UNIUPO DISIT, Alessandria, ItalyConsorzio Fitosanitario di Modena e Reggio, ItalyConsorzio Fitosanitario di Modena e Reggio, ItalyCantine Riunite & Civ, Reggio Emilia, ItalyCantine Riunite & Civ, Reggio Emilia, ItalyCantine Riunite & Civ, Reggio Emilia, ItalyCantine Riunite & Civ, Reggio Emilia, ItalyCantine Riunite & Civ, Reggio Emilia, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari, Università di Bologna, ItalyAn area-wide augmentative biological control program against vineyard mealybugs was conducted in a Lambrusco vineyard cultivation area in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy), releasing the parasitoid Anagyrus vladimiri and the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. A sampling program was established to evaluate the biological control efficacy of these natural enemies, within 16 pilot farms, following the principles of the Integrated Pest Management adopted in the region. The effectiveness of the natural enemies was evaluated by comparing the situation before and after 3 years of releases. Results showed that the dominant mealybug was Pseudococcus comstocki (75 % in 2019 and 86 % in 2022), followed by Planococcus ficus. A significant increase in parasitism rate and predator density was recorded in release farms compared to the control ones, with the parasitism rate reaching a median value of about 80 %. Mealybug infestation patterns, and to some extent the activity of natural enemies, showed some variability among the farms monitored. A positive correlation between A. vladimiri and C. mountrouzieri biocontrol activity revealed a lack of competition between them. The increase of insecticide treatments in release farms did not result in a higher efficacy of control, but negatively affected the parasitism rate. In conclusion, augmentative biological control promoted the activity of natural enemies, likely enhancing the dispersal of parasitoids. Our results highlight the need to combine a biological control strategy with an Integrated Pest Management approach based on the reduction of insecticide sprays, the use of more selective active ingredients, and the proper timing of treatments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001100Integrated pest managementBiological control agentsParasitoidsPseudococcus comstockiPlanococcus ficus |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Burgio Serena Magagnoli Roberto Mondini Emilio Guerrieri Luca Casoli Marco Profeta Sabina Capponcelli Alessandro Castiglioni Stefano Meglioraldi Matteo Mora Stefania Valeriani Martina Parrilli Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy Biological Control Integrated pest management Biological control agents Parasitoids Pseudococcus comstocki Planococcus ficus |
| title | Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy |
| title_full | Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy |
| title_short | Area-wide augmentation of Anagyrus vladimiri and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in Lambrusco vineyards in Northern Italy |
| title_sort | area wide augmentation of anagyrus vladimiri and cryptolaemus montrouzieri enhances biological control of mealybugs in lambrusco vineyards in northern italy |
| topic | Integrated pest management Biological control agents Parasitoids Pseudococcus comstocki Planococcus ficus |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1049964425001100 |
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