Bulletin of Insectology (2018) 71, 21-30

Valentina Candian, Marco G. Pansa, Rossella Briano, Cristiana Peano, Rosemarie Tedeschi and Luciana Tavella (2018)
Exclusion nets: a promising tool to prevent Halyomorpha halys from damaging nectarines and apples in NW Italy
Bulletin of Insectology 71 (1), 21-30
Abstract: Halyomorpha halys (Stal) (Heteroptera Pentatomidae) is becoming one of the most worrisome pests for many fruit crops worldwide causing serious fruit damage and thus heavy economic losses. Insecticide treatments are not so effective in containing this pest, and they should be repeated every 7-10 days. Therefore, exclusion nets represent one of the most readily available tools for crop protection and an environmental friendly alternative to pesticides. In this study, the use of exclusion nets was investigated in semi-field conditions as a potential strategy to protect nectarine and apple orchards from H. halys in NW Italy. The presence and abundance of the pest inside and outside the exclusion nets, as well as the damage on fruits all along the trials and at the harvest time were evaluated. Moreover, the possible effects of the net on the arthropod fauna (mainly predators) and on fruit quality and nutraceutical parameters were considered. This study showed that the exclusion nets are a very promising and sustainable tool for the management of H. halys. In particular, the exclusion nets reduced damage on peaches by 45% compared to unnetted and untreated trees, and on apples by 20% compared to the chemical control treatments. Moreover, the pearl anti-hail photoselective net used in our trials proved not to negatively affect the arthropod fauna present in the orchards as well as the quality of fruit production.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Rosemarie Tedeschi, Luciana Tavella

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Halyomorpha halys	Apple (Malus)	Italy
	Halyomorpha halys	Peach/nectarine (Prunus persica)	Italy