After invading in our country in 2014, the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu) is considered a serious pest problem, preventing the normal growth of chestnut trees, and disrupting their productivity, through the formation of galls on the stems and the leaves. In the spring of 2018, the first releases of the parasitoid insect wasp Torymus sinensis were started in Greece. This parasitic wasp is the only solution for the control and the management of Dryocosmus kuriphilus populations.
The specialized agronomists of Anthesis, member of Andermatt Group participated in the design and implementation of the parasitoid insect Torymus sinensis releases from the very first year, in the regional units where the biggest problems are located, in collaboration with Benakeio Phytopathological Institute (BPI) and Regional authorities.
Researchers from the BPI have been studying the levels of parasitism and establishment of the parasitoid, as well the status of its populations, from the first year until today.
According to the scientific results which were published by the BPI, from 2019 to 2022, parasitism levels show a significant increase. Specifically, the latest measurements (2022) showed that the average percentage of parasitoids amounted to 15.5% parasitoids per 100 galls, which is 12.9% more than the previous year (2021).
The results suggest the rapid and efficient introduction and establishment of the parasitoid. It is important to emphasize that the continuous releases in recent years have played an essential role.
Anthesis continues for one more year the supplementary releases of the insect Torymus sinensis, which will contribute to the faster control of the Chestnut gall Wasp thus giving solutions through nature.
We are pleased to have once again demonstrated that the use of beneficial macro-organisms contributes to the effective control of important agricultural pests in open field crops, offering to the producers proven sustainable solutions, to the direction of regenerative farming – for healthy food and a healthy environment for all.
