Indagine su Henosepilachna elaterii (Rossi) (=Epilachna chrysomelina (F.)) e Raphidopalpa foveicollis (Lucas) in meloneti biologici della Sicilia occidentale.
Investigations on Henosepilachna elaterii (Rossi) and Raphidopalpa foveicollis (Lucas) in an organic cultivation
of winter melon in western Sicily.
A study on H. elaterii and R. Foveicollis, serious pests of winter melon, was conducted in two organic melon fields of
the western Sicily. Dynamics of population and infestation levels were investigated. In addition, the possible influence of
mulching on R. Foveicollis infestation has been taken into account.
Our results showed that H. elaterii occurred only in one field from the beginning of June and it infested 60% of the
plants in the mid-July, then the pest population density dropped to about 10%. R. foveicollis occurred in both locations
from the beginning of June and reached high levels of population density around the mid-June; then the pest density rapidly
decreased in the two following weeks. Adults were found in the traps and the peak catches occurred in mid-June. A
greater number of catches was found in the traps placed between the rows and the greater number of individuals has been
detected on plants of the not mulched plots.
The percentage of plants with damaged leaves ranged from 68.7% to 100% on mulched plots and 93.3% to 100% on
not mulched plots. In conclusion, the damages inflicted by R. foveicollis are counterbalanced by the rapid growing rate
of the plant occurring during June. Hence, this pest may cause serious injuries only in case of heavy infestation on winter
melon seedlings. Similarly, the damage caused by H. elaterii is usually not heavy even if presence of high levels of infestation