Evaluation of efficacy of different insecticides against Philaenus spumarius L. vector of Xylella fastidiosa in olive orchards in southern Italy, 2015-17

Philaenus spumarius L. has been identified as the main vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing a disease denoted as Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) in Southern Italy. A major impediment to contain OQDS spread has been the lack of registered and approved pesticides for the control of P. spumarius on olive. From late 2017 to early 2018, only two commercial formulations of acetamiprid and delthametrin were officially registered in Italy. Hence, an urgent need exists to evaluate field efficacy of chemicals with different active ingredients, formulations, and modes of action to control the meadow spittlebug. From 2015 to 2017, six different field trials were conducted to valuate different insecticide products against P. spumarius.