Applied Entomology – potential topics

Applied Entomology in orchards, vineyards and horticultural crops (935.102) –
potential topics for student talks
10 minutes (if alone) or 15 minutes (if two together) talk (incl. discussion)
1. Use of the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri against herbivorous mites in
vineyards
2. Cockchafer Melolontha melolontha – biology, damage and control using the
fungi Beaueria bassiana or B. brongniartii
3. Use of pheromones to monitor and control the codling moth Cydia pomonella on
apple
4. San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus perniciosus – biology, damage, global
distribution, natural enemies
5. Description of the sterile insect technique including a case study
6. Grape phylloxera Dactylosphaera vitifolii – geographic distribution, history and
control
7. Social structure of honeybee hives
8. Social structure of ant colonies
9. Social structure of termite colonies
10. Use of the parasitoid Encarsia formosa against the whitefly Trialeurodes
vaporariorum
11. The leafminers Liriomyza trifolii and L. huidobrensis in greenhouse crops –
biology, damage, distribution and their natural enemies
12. Use of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens against the European
corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis
13. The Western corn root worm Diabrotica virgifera virgifera in Europe – biology,
current status, distribution
14. Apple blossom weevil Anthonomus pomorum – biology and damage
15. Black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus – biology and control using
entomopathogenic nematodes
16. Using the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis against spider mites in
greenhouses
17. Biology of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea and its use in biological
control

18. Aphids on apple –characterization of the main species and their importance
19. Desert locust Schistocerca gregaria – ecology, geographic distribution and
damage
20. North-south migration by the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippes
21. Use of colored sticky traps to monitor insect populations
22. Use of sex pheromones to confuse tortricid moths in grape
23. Psyllids as vectors of phytoplasmas on apple
24. Leafhoppers and transmission of phytoplasmas in grape
25. Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) –
biology and problems with its control
26. The tobacco red spider mite Tetranychus evansi (Acari, Tetranychidae), an
increasing threat of tomato in Europe – biology, damage and biological control
prospects
27. Biology of the tomato rust mite Aculops lycopersici (Acari, Eriophyidae) and
control options
28. Spider mites on apple (Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus ulmi, and Tetranychus
viennensis) – life cycle, damage and comparison of the main morphological
characters
29. Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii (Syrphidae) – morphology, biology, and global
distribution.
30. Rust mites (Eriophyidae) on apple – native species and their global distribution,
biology and damage of 1 particular species.
31. Gall mites (Eriophyidae) on grape – native species and their global distribution,
biology and damage of 1 particular species.
32. Using ladybird beetles to control aphids