Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is an invasive pest recently established in northern Italy, causing severe damage to grapevine, blueberry, and other high-value crops. Current chemical control strategies raise concerns regarding their impacts on pollinators and beneficial arthropods, driving the demand for non- chemical alternatives. This study quantified the operational thresholds required for effective physical removal of P. japonica adults and evaluated the field performance of directed air-jet and suction-based airflow systems in vineyards and blueberry crops. Laboratory trials measured airflow velocity at increasing nozzle distances for both systems and quantified the force range associated with effective manual vegetation shaking. Field trials assessed insect removal efficiency and vegetation damage under operational conditions. Field measurements confirmed that air velocities at or above approximately 40 m s− 1, maintained at a working distance of approx- imately 30 cm, are required for consistent beetle detachment. Airflow systems maintaining velocities above this threshold achieved removal efficiencies of 90-93% across all plant structures, while systems unable to reach this threshold at operational working distances performed substantially less effectively (49-74%). Manual shaking achieved 83% overall removal with applied forces of 2.5-4.1 N. Across all methods, removal efficiency was lowest on skeletonized leaves, highlighting the importance of early intervention. Plant damage was generally limited and effectively reduced by maintaining a nozzle distance greater than 20 cm from the canopy. These results provide a device-independent operational framework supporting physical removal as an effective and environmentally sound alternative to chemical control, compatible with integrated pest management and organic production systems.
Physical removal of adult Popillia japonica: quantifying airflow and vegetation shaking thresholds for non-chemical control compatible with organic farming
Manzone, MarcoFirst
;Bertone, Federico
Last
2026-01-01
Abstract
Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is an invasive pest recently established in northern Italy, causing severe damage to grapevine, blueberry, and other high-value crops. Current chemical control strategies raise concerns regarding their impacts on pollinators and beneficial arthropods, driving the demand for non- chemical alternatives. This study quantified the operational thresholds required for effective physical removal of P. japonica adults and evaluated the field performance of directed air-jet and suction-based airflow systems in vineyards and blueberry crops. Laboratory trials measured airflow velocity at increasing nozzle distances for both systems and quantified the force range associated with effective manual vegetation shaking. Field trials assessed insect removal efficiency and vegetation damage under operational conditions. Field measurements confirmed that air velocities at or above approximately 40 m s− 1, maintained at a working distance of approx- imately 30 cm, are required for consistent beetle detachment. Airflow systems maintaining velocities above this threshold achieved removal efficiencies of 90-93% across all plant structures, while systems unable to reach this threshold at operational working distances performed substantially less effectively (49-74%). Manual shaking achieved 83% overall removal with applied forces of 2.5-4.1 N. Across all methods, removal efficiency was lowest on skeletonized leaves, highlighting the importance of early intervention. Plant damage was generally limited and effectively reduced by maintaining a nozzle distance greater than 20 cm from the canopy. These results provide a device-independent operational framework supporting physical removal as an effective and environmentally sound alternative to chemical control, compatible with integrated pest management and organic production systems.
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