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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 ...
Vercelli - Football field Vercelli - Football field

Another Day in the Field

We need more larvae, a lot more larvae! That's our mission, our first in this year.

This time we were headed to a field in Vercelli, Piedmont.

While driving, the bus would shake and make weird noises when applying the brakes which is why we stopped a first time to inspect our tires and a second time at a mechanics to let him check properly. 

We found a mechanic, somewhere in the Gottardo region, and there comes this old guy, something between 70 and 80 years old, he takes a look at the bus, grunts, takes the key and drives off. Still in the backseat sitting - Aidan, our newest team member 😳


As they drove off we didn't quite know what just happened and imagined: if this was Columbia, Aidan would have been long sold and we would never see our car again. Luckily, we are in Switzerland and they returned 10min later, Aidan was safe and unharmed. Sooner or later we would need new brakes but for the moment we are fine to continue our journey.


Arriving in Vercelli, we found the most perfect place for Japanese beetles. There was a blueberry field right next to an irrigated football field. Perfect for the beetles and perfect for oviposition. 


And wow, did we find a lot of larvae! They literally popped out of the soil, we didn't have to dig deep. There were up to 40 larvae per hole. It was very satisfying and a lot of fun.

We found the 1500+ larvae in no time and earned ourselves a good lunch before heading home. What a good day!

Azorean field work between islands
Frontiers in Insect Science launches Research Topi...

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