Goals and Aims

The main objective of the laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology is the development of integrated methods to control major arthropod pests of olive, citrus, vine and vegetable crops. The main research axes are: a) insecticide resistance (levels of insecticide resistance, resistance mechanisms, molecular diagnostics) b) genetic diversity and gene flow among populations using molecular markers, c) endosymbiotic bacteria d) molecular identification of pests and beneficial and e) population dynamics of pests and beneficials. Accent in the past few year has been given the study of recently introduced quarantine pests such as the insect Tuta absoluta on of the more serious enemies of tomato worldwide, the mite Eutetranychus orientalis pest of citrus, as well as the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. At the same time the laboratory deals with agricultural pests present in our country for many years such as the whiteflies Bemisia tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum, the mite Tetranychus urticae as well as the  olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) that cause serious problems mainly because of the resistance to various insecticides they have developed. The laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology has developed narrow collaboration with the Department of Biology of University Crete, and with foreign institutes (INRA - France, IAR Cyprus, Rothamsted UK). At the same time the researchers of Laboratory are in continuous contact with the Agronomists of the Departments of Plant Protection and the Centre of Plant Protection and Qualitative Control.