Management of Popillia japonica in container-grown nursery stock in Italy

Abstract The Japanese beetle Popillia japonica is an invasive alien species recently introduced and established in Northern Italy. Adult beetles are very polyphagous feed on vines, fruit trees, forest crops, vegetables, ornamental wild plant species. Eggs usually laid by females moist grassland the summer, singly or small clusters. Larvae roots may be transported soil of plants for planting grown containers. Restrictions movement containers from infested to non-infested areas imposed phytosanitary regulations have a significant economic impact nursery industry. An innovative approach was used exclude oviposition weed mulching available container-grown stocks, testing larval survival application chemical (cypermethrin) organic ( Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Metarhizium brunneum ) commercial pesticides registered European nurseries. high effectiveness method makes it suitable component systems strategy pest risk management, order achieve safe production trade material beetle.