Dryocosmus kuryphylus (chestnut gall wasp) is a chestnut pest native to China accidentally introduced in Italy in 2002. THE PROJECT ON BIOLOGICAL CHESTNUT GALL WASP CONTROL started in 2012 aiming to the gradual and controlled introduction of the antagonist parasitoid Torymussinensis and to investigate the infestation evolution. In three years 112 pest were released in 112 sites in compliance with the criteria set by the National Plan of the Chestnut Sector.
Since 2012 the Torymus’ establishment is tested in winter by collecting galls and counting the number of adult emergences. Once the adults’ multiplication and release stages have been completed in specific multiplication centers, the biological control is carried out by using parasitized galls instead of parasitoids; in a reasonable time this strategy will grant a stable and wide Torymus’ establishment, in order to lower the cynipid population under the damage level.
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