Alex Aebi’s research page
Invasion Biology:
Gallwasp communities are characterized by several invasion events (see Dr Schönrogge’s webpage). Very recently, the globally invasive chinese chestnut gallwasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus (Hymenoptea: Cynipidae) arrived in Europe (Piemonte, Italy). This gall wasp reduces chestnut production by 60-80% and threatens chestnut orchards and natural forests.
Along its invasion route, D. kuriphilus naturally recruited parasitoids attacking oak gall wasps. Native parasitoids very rapidly exploit the new host leading to a great overlap between communities centered on oak and chestnut.
While chemical treatments and resistant varieties proved inefficient against D. kuriphilus, Torymus sinensis (Hym. Torymidae) a biological control agent originating from China was recently introduced in Italy to reduce the infestation to a tolerable level.
The natural invasion of D. kuriphilus and the introduction of T. sinensis provides an excellent opportunity to study the dynamics and evolution of insect communities.
A tent for the mass rearing of the beneficial insect T. sinensis © A Aebi
Examination of a giant chestnut tree in Piemonte © G Bosio
