The research activity of the Agricultural Entomology group aims to develop grapevine pest management strategies for a sustainable viticulture.  We do basic research as the identification of grapevine vine pests, in particular invasive species, the study of their biology, and their interactions with the plant and the associated food webs. We also perform applied research as the development of monitoring techniques and integrated management combining different pest control techniques to minimize the side effects on the environment and human health.


Group leader: Carlo Duso – Full Professor (carlo.duso@unipd.it)

Research group members


Publications (selection)

  • Malagnini, V., Pozzebon, A., Facchin, P., Paganelli, A., & Duso, C. (2022).Airborne pollen can affect the abundance of predatory mites in vineyards: implications for conservation biological control strategies. Pest Management Science, 78(5), 1963-1975.
  • Giudice, G., Moffa, L., Niero, M., Duso, C., Sandrini, M., Vazzoler, L. F., Luison, M., Pasini, E., Chitarra, W., & Nerva, L. (2022). Novel sustainable strategies to control Plasmopara viticola in grapevine unveil new insights on priming responses and arthropods ecology. Pest Management Science, 78(6), 2342-2356.
  • Fornasiero, D., Pavan, F., Pozzebon, A., & Duso, C. (2022). Influence of grapevine water stress on egg laying, egg hatching and nymphal survival of the green leafhopper Empoasca vitis. Entomologia Generalis, 75-85.
  • Duso, C., Pozzebon, A., Lorenzon, M., Fornasiero, D., Tirello, P., Simoni, S., & Bagnoli, B. (2022). The Impact of Microbial and Botanical Insecticides on Grape Berry Moths and Their Effects on Secondary Pests and Beneficials. Agronomy, 12(1), 217.
  • Reineke, A., Pozzebon, A., Herczynski, O., & Duso, C. (2021). Insights in genetic diversity of German and Italian grape berry moth (Eupoecilia ambiguella) populations using novel microsatellite markers. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 4485.
  • Zanettin, G., Bullo, A., Pozzebon, A., Burgio, G., & Duso, C. (2021). Influence of vineyard inter-row groundcover vegetation management on arthropod assemblages in the vineyards of North-Eastern Italy.Insects, 12(4), 349.
  • Prazaru, S. C., Zanettin, G., Pozzebon, A., Tirello, P., Toffoletto, F., Scaccini, D., & Duso, C. (2021). Evaluating the impact of two generalist predators on the leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata population density.Insects, 12(4), 321.
  • Tirello, P., Marchesini, E., Gherardo, P., Raniero, D., Rossetto, F., Pozzebon, A., & Duso, C. (2021). The control of the American leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata (Fitch) in European vineyards: Impact of synthetic and natural insecticides.Insects, 12(2), 85.
  • Duso, C., Zanettin, G., Gherardo, P., Pasqualotto, G., Raniero, D., Rossetto, F., Tirello, P., & Pozzebon, A. (2020). Colonization patterns, phenology and seasonal abundance of the Nearctic leafhopper Erasmoneura vulnerata (Fitch), a new pest in European vineyards. Insects, 11(11), 731.