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From Twitter

05 August 2024
Pest management
#IPMPopillia
Pupils from class 2D had a good intuition! In fact, the Fungzuka device is being tested by CREA's researchers since summer 2023. The "Fungzuka" is an "Attract-Infest-Release" device that is conceived to bring adult Popillia japonica insects in c...
10 July 2024
Citizen Science
#IPMPopillia
Monitoring
In recent months, the IPM Popillia Consortium has collaborated with SPOTTERON to create informational and dissemination materials about the invasive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), which has been spreading across Europe for several years. R...
10 June 2024
Citizen Science
#IPMPopillia
Prof. Francesco Nardi (University of Siena) and Prof. Rossella Annoni (junior high school G. Falcone, Cassina de' Pecchi, Milan) have been working together, this past year, with class 2D (12-13 years old pupils) on Popillia within the context of the ...
Metarhizium robertsii strain 17/T02

Natural allies against Popillia japonica: Entomopathogenic fungi

Entomopathogenic fungi are micro-organisms naturally occurring in the environment, most of all in soil. They are natural parasites of insects that proliferate killing their host. Metarhizium is one of the most used ones in biological control.



The CREA team has isolated a Metarhizium robertsii strain called 17/T02 from the area infested by Popillia japonica in Italy for its effectiveness.





Now, we are preparing it to be tested as a biological control agent.



Fungal spores are stirred and mixed with alginate, kaolin and water.  





Drop by drop, we obtain small granules containing the fungal spores that we call SAPs (Sodium Alginate Pellets).




After air-drying, the SAPs are ready to be tested in field.

 

​How to control the spread of the Japanese beetle?...
What would a Japanese beetle spread cost us?

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