| Dryocosmus kuriphilis Yasumatsu is a one of the most threatening insect pests of Castanea and it has been found for the first time in Italy in Piemonte. This insect only attacks the genus Castanea. The small wasp like insects have black bodies and yellow brown legs. The female lays several groups of eggs (3-5 per group) on the Castanea buds. The eggs and larvae slowly hatch and develop during trhe autumn and winter months. On the re-start of vegetative growth in the spring, galls 0.5-2mm in diameter develop on the buds and leaf tissue in 7-14 days. Inside the galls, the larvae feed and eventually pupate and the insect emerges from the gall through a small tunnel. The insect is classified as Hymenoptera, Cynipidae. It can be very damaging and biological control is the only method that seems to offer a solution. In Japan and China the beneficial insect Torymus sinensis Kamijo has been obtaining good results. Silia Vige “Linea Verde” silvia.vige@tiscali.it Fax 02 89501604 E-mail: info@linea-verde.net www.linea-verde.net |
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