Innovative wood treatments with hybrid inorganic-organic polymers and a proposal for drywood termites standard testing protocol

Introduction: Wood is a renewable resource widely used as a structural material and for a variety of artefacts, thanks to its particularly advantageous mechanical properties and aesthetic characteristics. However, due to its organic nature, it is subjected to physical and biological deterioration. A novel treatment based on polyamidoamines (PAAs) functionalized with siloxanes was developed and patented. PAAs were synthesized by nucleophile addition of ethanolamine (EtA) and/or 3-aminopropytriethoxysilane (APTES) to N,N’-methyl-bis-acrylamide (MBA). Considering the technology and products for wood protection in EU and USA, the existing standard norms to test effectiveness against termites are exclusively focused on subterranean species (Rhinotermitidae). Due to great differences in bio-ethology, they are not suitable for drywood termites (Kalotermitidae), that are increasingly indicated as serious wood pests. Methods: The present work tested the efficacy of three PAAs formulations (named A, B, C) as wood preservatives, using the standard EN 118 for the subterranean Reticulitermes lucifugus and a purposely developed protocol for the drywood termite Kalotermes flavicollis. Results/Conclusion: All PAAs formulations were characterized by ESI-MS, NMR, FTIR. Our bioassays used the EN 118 protocol, and all formulations were effective in preserving wood against R. lucifugus, resulting in negligible wood consumption and significantly higher mortality than controls. Regarding K. flavicollis, all formulations resulted in a significant reduction of wood damage and formulation B was the most effective at increasing termite mortality. Overall, PAAs treatments look promising as innovative wood preservatives against termites, with low effective concentration, low environmental impact and good fixation qualities into the wood

Contributo dei pipistrelli al controllo della cimice asiatica.

La cimice asiatica si sta diffondendo rapidamente in Italia causando danni consistenti alle colture. I pipistrelli possono rivelarsi efficienti predatori di questo insetto alieno, in grado anche di individuarne precocemente la presenza sul territorio (chirosorveglianza

La cimice “diabolica”, minaccia per l’agricoltura.

The Asian brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys is extremely invasive and in 2015 began to cause significant damage to crops in Emilia-Romagna. The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is searching sustainable strategies for the management in the field

About the presence of termites in Florence

This work highlights the problem of the presence of the termites Reticulitermes lucifugus and Kalotermes flavicollis, detected in an area of the historic center of Florence (Italy). Pest management was immediately undertaken by a specific monitoring program to determine the status of the infestation, identifying the critical elements and their potential impact on the structures involved, as well as outlining the necessary control measures. Analyzing the area, several colonies of both termite species were detected, some located within the wooden flooring of a gym and some others outdoor, in tree stumps and in necrosated roots at the base of some trees. Two episodes of collapsed tall trees were also reported. Termites were detected also in other areas of the city of Florence, such as the Cascine park and the Boboli garden, where many trees were clearly infested by K. flavicollis. This work allowed to realize that problems with termite infestations could be higher than expected, by seriously threatening the historical and artistic heritage of the city and by causing trees weakening in public areas, thus also threatening the people safety. Taking into account these findings, we suggest to extend the termite survey to the entire city and to establish a working group, with multidisciplinary competences, able to develop a proper prevention and control program aimed at the protection of cultural heritage and management of tree health in public parks

Biologia e diffusione di Halyomorpha halys, l’autostoppista invasivo che sconvolge la difesa integrata

Biology and spread of Halyomorpha halys, the invasive hitchhiker that disrupts integrated pest management Halyomorpha halys is an invasive fast-spreading pest of global importance native to East Asia, currently reported in the United States, Canada, Chile and Europe. Its bioecological features favour the human-assisted worldwide spread as a hitchhiker on inanimate objects by any means of transport and make its management in the field very difficult. H. halys causes severe damage to many crops and in Northern Italy it quickly became key-pest of fruit orchards, resulting in an increase in the number of treatments with broad spectrum insecticides, seriously disrupting previous IPM programs. The great success of this invasive species seem to be related to: i) the wide range of suitable host plants, both cultivated and spontaneous; ii) the great mobility of all instars; iii) the very high growth rate potential (in Northern Italy, R0 = 24.04 and 5.44 for the overwintering and summer generation, respectively); iv) the scarcity and very low efficacy of the native biocontrol agents; iv) the strong association with human beings, especially during the overwintering period, that, beside making it a household nuisance pest, highly facilitates the diffusion through traveling people and goods

About the presence of termites in Florence

This work highlights the problem of the presence of the termites Reticulitermes lucifugus and Kalotermes flavicollis, detected in an area of the historic center of Florence (Italy). Pest management was immediately undertaken by a specific monitoring program to determine the status of the infestation, identifying the critical elements and their potential impact on the structures involved, as well as outlining the necessary control measures. Analyzing the area, several colonies of both termite species were detected, some located within the wooden flooring of a gym and some others outdoor, in tree stumps and in necrosated roots at the base of some trees. Two episodes of collapsed tall trees were also reported. Termites were detected also in other areas of the city of Florence, such as the Cascine park and the Boboli garden, where many trees were clearly infested by K. flavicollis. This work allowed to realize that problems with termite infestations could be higher than expected, by seriously threatening the historical and artistic heritage of the city and by causing trees weakening in public areas, thus also threatening the people safety. Taking into account these findings, we suggest to extend the termite survey to the entire city and to establish a working group, with multidisciplinary competences, able to develop a proper prevention and control program aimed at the protection of cultural heritage and management of tree health in public parks

Biological parameters of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in southern Europe

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, is an invasive pest species, first detected in Italy in 2012. Only 2 years after this first detection, increasing damage was reported in fruit orchards in the Emilia Romagna region, the first invaded area, which is one of the most important regions for the Italian and European fruit production. In the present study, life table parameters of H. halys populations were investigated in Italy under typical temperate/Mediterranean climate conditions representative of southern Europe. Our findings indicate that in Italy H. halys has two generations/year and very high reproductive rates for both generations (R0 = 24.04 and 5.44 for the overwintering and summer generation, respectively). The huge growth rates explain why in 2015 a massive outbreak of H. halys was observed in Italy, and these rates confirm that the pest is a threat for agricultural production in southern Europe. The parameters obtained in this study are essential for the development and optimization of sustainable management strategies

Effect of chestnut tannins on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica

Among the natural products extracted from plants, tanninshave been reported to possess antihelmintic propertiesespecially for gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants.Also, they are toxic to a wide range of fungi, bacteria andyeasts. Therefore, an in vitro and a glasshouse pot experimentswere undertaken to evaluate the effect of chestnuttannins on the control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogynejavanica. In the in vitro experiment, different tanninconcentrations in a geometric scale (from 0.32 to 20.48g/l), were tested for their effect on hatching of the nematode,whereas in the pot experiment, 100, 250 and 450g/m2 of tannins in aqueous solutions, were used in pots attransplant or at transplant and two weeks later for theireffect on nematode control. In both experiments treatmentswere compared to untreated and fenamiphos-treated controls.In vitro a nematostatic effect of tannins was observed,whereas in the pot experiment a significant reductionof eggs and juveniles/g root, total population densityand reproduction rates of the nematode were recorded. Theanatomical changes induced by M. javanica in tomatoroots treated with tannins did not differ from those producedby this and other Meloidogyne species on varioushosts reported earlier