Observations on behavioural activity involved in the host selection by secondary pests of stored grains, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Tribolium confusum J. du Val, with respect to intact and mechanically or naturally damaged kernels are reported. Our results indicate that the attraction of secondary pests is facilitated by broken grain kernels, which resulted from either mechanical damage during harvesting and/or binning procedures, or the feeding activity of primary insect pests. Insect damaged kernels were more attractive to O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum than whole kernels; in addition insect damaged kernels elicit more attractiveness than mechanically split kernels. The damage caused by primary pests, such as Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) and Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), on whole kernels may facilitate colonization by secondary pests, which continue damaging the cereals. O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum utilize the grain volatile odours to distinguish whether the grain kernels of the stored cereals are damaged mechanically or by insects.

Sciarretta A., Trematerra P. (2014): Geostatistical tools for the study of insect spatial distribution: practical implications in the integrated management of orchard and vineyard pests. Plant Protect. Sci., 50: 97-110.Spatial heterogeneity in agricultural systems is recognised as an important source of variability to be investigated. In the evolution of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), patterns and processes that influence spatio-temporal dynamics in insect populations tend to assume more importance compared to the classical theory. Geostatistics represent a valuable tool to investigate the spatial pattern of insect populations and to support pest control. After an explanation of the geostatistical analysis, in the present paper we provided an overview of practical applications in managing pests, focusing on fruit orchards and vineyards. The utility of geostatistical tools is illustrated with examples taken from field studies, with attention to the analysis of spatial patterns, monitoring schemes, use of traps, scale issues, precision targeting, and risk assessment maps. Potential approaches in the context of IPM are discussed in relation to future perspectives.

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The results obtained in spatial analysis of pheromone trap catches of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) and Peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella (Zeller), are reported. The studies were performed in the Molise region, central Italy, during 2002 and2003. Local distributions of oriental fruit moth and peach twig borer males were considered in a heterogeneous landscape. The aim of the study was to determine the temporal and spatial variation in distribution and abundance of the insect pests inside small plots of fruit orchards (apple, kiwi, peach, pear and plum fruits) and outside (in field crops, irrigation channels, hedgerows and a river), and to evaluate the importance of the host plants in relation to the adult distributions. Results showed that the main Ôhot spotÕ for both lepidopterous pests was in a stone fruit orchard in the northern zone of the study area; other infested areas were in stone orchards and, in the case of A. lineatella, also in plum orchards. The river seems to act as a barrier rather than an ecological corridor. The observed spatio-temporal distributions of G. molesta and A. lineatella differed and were determined mainly by the location of the most important host plants and by the tendency of males to move in the environment, i.e. inside and outside the breeding and mating sites. Adequate knowledge of these spatial processes should be considered as an essential prerequisite for integrated pest management programmes in a precision farming approach.

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