Community preferences for the preservation of Canary Palm from Red Palm Weevil in the city of Bari

Abstract

Sardaro, R., L. Roselli, R. Grittani, M. Scrascia, C. Pazzani, V. Russo, F. Garganese, C. Porfido, L. Diana and F. Porcelli. 2019. Community preferences for the preservation of Canary Palm from Red Palm Weevil in the city of Bari. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 37(2): 206-211.Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (red palm weevil) caused the death of 40% of Phoenix canariensis Chabaud (Canary palm) between 2011 and 2013 in the city of Bari. Extraordinary measures of compulsory pest control at EU and national level were applied, which however require public funds, hence proper cost-benefit studies, in order to favour better decision-making for urban green management. In this work, we investigated the preferences of the urban community towards specific measures for the preservation of Canary palm through a choice experiment. The results can be used to endorse the strategy in force and to shed light on effective and efficient prospective expenditures of public funds for areas affected by red palm weevil.

Landscape and Vegetation Patterns Zoning Is a Methodological Tool for Management Costs Implications Due to Xylella fastidiosa Invasion

“…We presume an influx at each passage from zone to zone and consequent sufferance for pests with a pronounced dispersive attitude. Mitigation of pests strongly driven by semiochemical, or VOCs [41][42][43] will suggest the attempt to lure and concentrate them in the zone with scarce or absent resources or to interfere [44], modifying the interaction with the host or food plants. The interference will result in lower fitness and premature death, eventually.…”

“…The cost at each zone passage is interesting to evaluate and to use as a control mean, mainly versus pests with a robust dispersive attitude. Semiochemicals or VOCs [41][42][43] use is also a low impact and sustainable asset of interesting management actions to modify host/food plant to pest interaction. Using ecological corridors as functional zones to control is also an exciting option.…”

Aphrophoridae Role in Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 Invasion in Southern Italy

“…However, the pest number/damage proportionality allows using such proper techniques as pest trapping and similar approaches for thresholds evaluation [ 61 ]. In control actions, the damage forecast should promptly compare the damage value with the control cost [ 62 , 63 ]. The pest control issue consists of managing the pest population to get acceptable damage without suppressing all the pest individuals.…”