Experiments on Orius laevigatus mechanized release in the biological control of strawberry protected crops

Over the last years, biological control techniques have contributed decisively to promote strawberryrevitalization as protected crops, obtaining guaranteed productions from a sanitary point of view. Protectedcrops provide ideal conditions for the biological control, with seasonal inoculative releases of beneficialorganisms usable in rational integrated pest management strategies. The application of these techniquesconcerns particularly the biological control of the occidental flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis(Pergande), through the release of an anthocorid predator Orius laevigatus (Fieber) that proved itseffectiveness to control thrips. Currently, in Italy, predators release in protected crops is achieved manually.Therefore, it requires a physical effort because of execution inconvenience, it is time-consuming andconsequently presents high labor costs. Moreover, the uneven distribution generates additional costs due tothe high amount of predators used. In addition to economical aspects of such intervention, it wasdemonstrated that manual distribution of living organisms influences also the effectiveness of beneficialinsects release, especially when they move slightly or when they are in a specific biological stage. In order toobtain a higher work capacity, higher intervention timeliness and a better economy, manually release ofauxiliaries has been replaced with mechanical one. In the current study, it was intended to experiment twoprototypes, realized by the University of Catania – Mechanics Section, both in the laboratory and in the field,to assess the opportunity that offers auxiliaries mechanized release at large-scale in the integrated pestmanagement and or the biological control of protected crops. The study was carried-out during theagricultural campaign 2009/10.