Monitoring the Bud Mite Pest in a Hazelnut Orchard of Central Italy: Do Plant Height and Irrigation Influence the Infestation Level?

Mite pests are a serious threat for hazelnut cultivations, causing economic losses every year. At least two species of big bud mites, Phytoptus avellanae (Acari: Phytoptidae) and Cecidophyopsis vermiformis Eriophyidae), involved in severe infestations, even though few studies report P. as the most present harmful. Great steps forward have been made monitoring management strategies these mite pests, but plethora questions remains unanswered about their ecology behaviour how agronomical practices impact populations. Given this precondition, we conducted four-year an experimental orchard located Viterbo district, Central Italy, to: (i) explore potential effect that irrigation has on (ii) assess if mites locate particular band height plants; (iii) overall field infestation over years. This study showed not-irrigated plants irrigated by underground pipe systems were similarly infested. Mites tend to middle plant, namely from 1.5 3 m ground. The survey increasing trend, with peak 2021 2022 not-irrigated. These results milestone further exploration biology pest formulate ad hoc control well.