Insects: major anatomical and morphological structures in relation to the food damage with trace analysis for identification purposes; biology and control of main stored food pests
Text books:
L. Süss, D. P. Locatelli (2001),“I parassiti delle derrate”,Edagricole, Bologna.
e urbana”, Aracne Editrice, Roma
D. Capizzi, L. Santini (2007), “I Roditori italiani”, Antonio Delfino Editore, Roma
Belcari A., Macchione P., Gianchecchi U., Bacciotti D., Nencetti A., Rossi F.,2012, “ Gestione Integrata degli animali infestanti nelle industrie alimentari” FUP, Univestità degli Studi di Firenze
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: basics on arthopods pests of the stored food
Competence acquired (at the end of the course): to give a right determination of arthropod pests and/or their damages
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
To plan proper strategies for prevention and control of stored food pests.
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab:
recommended
Teaching tools: movies, insects pests slides, entomological boxes and living insects pests
Type of Assessment
Oral examination. Questions will be asked in order to verify that the student has acquired specific knowledge and ability to elaborate and make connections between the topics covered in the course.
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 insects life cycle. Reproduction and development. Moulting 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 behaviour 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.
General and introductory relating to earwig, Hemiptera and Psocoptera
General and introductory aspects of Apterigota related to: Tysanura: biology, ecology and resources for monitoring and control;
General and introductory aspects related to Pterigota: Blattoidea: Bioecology, ethology, damage, monitoring and control systems;
Morpho-taxonomic examination of the main species damaging the stored food: biology and integrated pest management (bioecology, ethology, damage, monitoring and control) of the main species belonging the the following orders: Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera.
Rodents sinanthropus: biology, ecology and morpho-taxonomic examination of the major pest in the food chain; trace analysis for the identification, monitoring and control of Mus domesticus, Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus